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If you're a virtual assistant with a business website promoting your VA business and your website is not contributing to increasing your client list, take action. There are a lot of reasons your website might not be delivering prospective clients to your virtual assistant business. One reason could be your web page headline (and I don't mean your tagline, logo or company name). For instance, your website home page may not have a headline. Or it may not be a good one.

Put a headline near the top of your web page that stands out and gets read first. Put a BENEFIT to your reader in that headline. I'm a prospect. I've heard of virtual assistants. I'm not sure what they can do for me. I think they can help me grow my business or take some of my work-related tasks off of my hands. I come to your website (this article isn't touching on how I found your website---just assume I did find it). The FIRST THING I want to see at your website is a big headline that says something like...

"I Can Give You Back Your Time to Strategically Grow Your Business. Let Me Take Over These Three Admin Tasks for You"

"Database Entry. Answering Routine Customer Emails. Bill Paying... Boooooring!!!! I Know Someone Who Will Do Those Mundane Tasks For You."

"Can I Help You Double Your Business for the Price You Pay For Lunch Daily"

"Discover How to Spend More Time With Your Family. Hire a Virtual Assistant to Show You The Way."

"Grow Your Business Quicker. Increase Revenues Faster. Outsource Your Administrative Tasks To Me."

And those are just a few impromptu examples I devised to illustrate the point in this article. I am not a professional copywriter. You can consult other sources for copywriting tips that tell you how to write a "great" headline. I'm just telling you to have a headline on your virtual assistant business website. It's good marketing!

Make your headline solve my problems. Tell me what you can do for me. Tell me that before you tell me who you are. I don't care who you are at first. I don't care about the technical definition of a virtual assistant. My immediate thought is what can you do for me. Blast that out at me in a big headline on your virtual assistant business sales page (your website) and I promise I'll stick around to read your subheadline. Shout something useful to me in your subheadline and I promise I'll go on to read the first paragraph of copy that appears next on your website. Keep hooking me with benefits and I'll go on to read about your specific virtual assistant services, rates and experience. And THEN I'll contact you for a more specific quote and interview.

Don't do that and I'm gone within seconds of opening your website.

Make your headlines specific and relevant. Be creative. Make them clear. Make them visible. Make them client centered.

Your website IS a marketing tool for your virtual assistant business. Use it. And use it wisely.

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Karen Fritscher-Porter publishes http://www.GetYourAssistant.com - a global directory of virtual assistants for hire to small businesses and home-based businesses. If you're a virtual assistant, learn how to boost your income, not your hours. Subscribe to the 100% free VA Marketing Tips Toolkit Series at http://www.getyourassistant.com/va-marketing-newsletter.htm Plus list your VA business free for three-months in the GetYourAssistant.com global VA directory at http://www.getyourassistant.com/more-business.htm.

The team and I had an interesting discussion online the other day, which resulted from a client and team member having a different understanding about something. And that something was the time involved, and related costs, in transcribing a recording. What the client hadn’t understood was that there is a difference between an audio hour and a transcription hour, and therefore the fee he thought he’d accepted ended up being considerably more and he and the team member had to negotiate for something that was acceptable to both. After all she’d put in a lot of hours, but he wasn’t expecting to pay as much. Which brings me to the point of this article.

We always try to explain as best we can what is entailed in any job we take on for our clients, but on occasion that may fail because we haven’t asked you (the client) enough questions or perhaps the other way around.

In transcription work there is a vast difference between the audio hour (the recording) and the transcription hour (the typed manuscript) because the ratio between the two can be anywhere between 1:3 – 1:6, i.e. it could take up to 6 hours to type one hour of recording (worst scenario). The reasons for this are many and include:

*Speed and clarity of speech
*Background noise
*More than one voice speaking
*Terminologies
*Accents
*Poor quality recording.

Experienced transcriptionists who are also fast typists may charge somewhat more per transcription hour than another who types slower, but it usually works out much the same in cost to the client. If you (the client) get quotes for transcription work that vary vastly however, then it is worth asking questions why – the difference may well be that some transcriptionists charge by the audio hour (much higher rate) than by the transcription hour. The first gives you a guaranteed price; the second gives you an approximate price for the completed job, however if the work took fewer hours than more, you could end up with change in your pocket.

Perhaps in your own industry you find client understanding of what you do may also differ considerably and it is important that we all help to educate each other in our particular specialties. There have been times when I’ve spoken to people on the phone about something I didn’t understand and I’ve had to remind them that they know their own business, and I don’t and they need to explain it to me in a way that helps me to understand. Unfortunately often these people are new staff, or in a role that has vast turnovers of staff with hurried training, and therefore seem to be inexperienced or untrained in explaining properly how something works or worse, they assume the customer knows. The customer doesn’t always know and we should never assume they do. That doesn’t mean we treat them like they’re simple or an idiot, but rather we should take time to ask them do they understand that………..and quickly and clearly explain what is involved. It makes for a happier life all round for everyone involved.

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Kathie M. Thomas, AFAIOP, MVA, ASO is the founder of "A Clayton's Secretary", a Virtual Assistant Network with members in many countries. Dedicated to teaching others about operating business over the Internet, Kathie is a multiple award winner as both a Secretary and Virtual Business Operator, and has over 30 years' experience in the secretarial/administrative field. She registered her business in March 1994 and is one of the senior VAs who launched the industry globally. http://www.vadirectory.net.

MMany may not know but one of my websites recently had a mention on the Dr. Phil website as one of the top ways to make money online by becoming a Virtual Assistant. It is amazing how traffic from a television show like this can boost your service sales overnight. I never would have imagined it but here I am booked solid for the next two months with no room for new clients until the New Year! As a Virtual Assistant for many years, anticipation of this day has always been in the back of my mind pushing me more and more every working minute to achieve this success. I am here…YEAH! So many have asked me, how did you get on the Dr. Phil show’s website?

Word of mouth. I have a monthly retainer client who is a coach that I have been working with for about 3 years now. I have always went over and beyond for this client, giving my extra mile in all the work I do for him. If he called on Friday at 5pm right minutes before my closing hours and needed another ½ hours work in an emergency, I would typically get it done for him. However, he has always respected my time and never abused it.

This client also happens to work in an industry wherein many of his colleagues have Fortune 500 businesses and many other unique connections and networks throughout the business and press world.

One day I got a call from one of his clients he referred me to work with who asked me “in 4 days, one of my clients is going to be on Dr. Phil show and they need their website to be ready for it, can you do it?” The first thing I thought was “NOWAY! There is just not enough time to pull this off” yet instead, I mulled it over for a few, asked her a few more questions and said, “sure, let’s get this done for you!” I had 4 business days to make this work and yes, I worked my weekend to gain a few extra hours forgoing a Saturday night out at the movies to put more time in for this client. It was hectic and tiring but in the end, everything came together as planned and worked for my clients.

The first couple of days I spent on making their website more usable. I changed the navigation around to make it easier for the user to surf their way through to find the content they were looking for. I re-organized their storefront to funnel in the visitors from the Dr. Phil show and entice users to buy their books easier. This helped my clients make extra money from this high traffic flow. I also set up a strategic newsletter signup area to collect names for their database for future marketing ventures. In a nutshell, I made their website become something that was more usable and would easily convert into dollars for them.

The last couple of days were spent on publicity and marketing to others online to come and watch their show on Dr. Phil at the end of the week to help their ratings. To do this meant we needed banners all over the place online like yesterday! Yet how could I get banners in such a short time period? That was when I realized that the website itself still didn’t have any sticky power and I needed that to keep people at the website to eventually entice them into buying product. Sticky power is anything from contests to articles of interest that keep your readers attention at your website to discover everything you have to offer to them. People love information on the net and what better way to keep them on my client’s website than to feed them lots of relevant information (articles) to their desires. Being that the traffic from this Dr. Phil show would all be related to working moms, I decided to ask other high traffic websites that target towards working moms to let me put my client’s banner on their website and in exchange, I would put their article with their contact information on my client’s website. My client would get more traffic through the banners to watch them on Dr. Phil show and my colleagues would get exposure to their business by people reading their articles from the high traffic from the Dr. Phil show. It was a win/win for both.

In the end, not only were my clients thrilled with my work but my business colleagues whose articles were used to help out in this marketing plan were smiling as well. The high traffic from this television show filled everyone’s email boxes to the brim with inquiries and sales. We even had over 30,000 votes on a contest we were offering.

The success of this marketing plan put my services as a Virtual Assistant in high demand. On a business level of success, I could not have asked for more. I can now pick and choose my clients and what a wonderful feeling this is.

All this occurred because of one thing. Word of mouth. Want to be remembered by someone else as a Virtual Assistant? Then always go that extra mile:

When they say “it can’t be done!”, you say “Let’s start at noon today”

When they say “we need it done in 2 weeks”, you say “Here’s your completed project, done 3 days early”

When they say “Can you do it for $50 per hour?, you say “Yes and if you pay for 10 hours in advance, I’ll throw in free faxing and long distance calls”.

Go the extra mile for your clients and reap the rewards with more business which means more money in your pocket!

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About the Author » View Author Profile » Authors Biography

Tawnya Sutherland, founder of Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA) (http://www.vanetworking.com) and author of The VBSS System, a Virtual Business Startup System, is a Certified Internet Marketing Specialist sharing much of her online marketing experience at VAN to help aspiring and successful VAs turn clicks into cash at their websites. Contact her at tawnya@mediamage.com.

Continued success depends on you working not just in but on your business. What initiatives do you have in place?

When we first start out we spend lots of time working on our business, getting materials ready, networking, following up, advertising, making connections etc. As we grow our business and becoming busier we spend more time working in the business doing day-to-day client work. If we want to continue to grow and expand the business we need to work ‘on’ versus ‘in’ our business. Let’s explore this concept.

What is the importance of working on my business?

Clients will come and go and when they go you want to make sure you have the ability to replace the workload and income. Most of you will also be in business to grow your business.

It takes effort to start, maintain, sustain and grow a business. There is always room for improvement, standards that can be raised, initiatives or new technologies to be implemented, business expansion, or shifts in direction that won’t take place if you are caught up in the day-to-day doing of client work.
How much time should I spend working on my business?

You should be spending about 20% of your time on your business doing income preparation activities. As a guideline the breakdown would look something like;

* 60% on income activities that are directly related to making money i.e. client work;
* 20% on income preparation activities such as consultations, writing articles, networking etc.;
* 10% on value add activities such as a top ten list, client feedback, updating technologies etc.; and
* 10% on administration such as invoicing, tracking or compiling statistics, paying bills and other paperwork required.

So if you are working a 40-hour workweek ideally you should be spending 8 hours a week working on your business. It may seem like a lot but you’d be surprised how quickly you can eat this up and the payback is worth it. Be sure to schedule time every week to work on your business and you will guarantee your success!

What are some things I can do to work on my business?

You want to focus on activities that will potentially bring in income to the business. As mentioned above some of these activities could be consultations, complimentary sessions, info sessions, writing articles, newsletters, free teleclasses, networking, marketing, research, strategizing, workshops, speaking engagements, tradeshows, reciprocal links, banner ads, ezine ads, bulk mailings, sponsorship of sports teams or local events, donating your services to events, silent auctions, press releases or asking for referrals.
What happens if I don’t work on it?

Other VA’s who are continuing to work on their business, implementing new technologies, providing new or expanded services, have their name in front of potential clients consistently, are creating raving fans, advertising expansively, regularly marketing and networking will have potential clients waiting in the wings and be able to quickly and easily attract new clients. Where will you be if you have not been proactive? How will you expand or grow your business? How will you be able to model the ability to grow your client’s business? How will and how many potential clients will know about you? Will you be able to provide the services required? How big will your resource pool be?
What blocks or limiting beliefs do I need to look out for?

I don’t have time I’m too busy working on billable hours. Maybe today you are but if you don’t make time there may come a time when you have too much time. I won’t need any new clients mine are loyal and be with me forever. Don’t kid yourself and get your head out of the sand! This is an unrealistic expectation given the statistics for small business and life itself. My clients will provide all the referrals I need. You need to be really, really well established and confident about this one and even then I wouldn’t count on it. Networking doesn’t work for me. Then work on your networking! Over the years this strategy has remained a constant in client generation.

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Mary-Lou Ashon successfully launched her Virtual Assistant company in 1997 and holds expertise in organizing information, creation and implementation of administrative procedures and marketing. She has proven that dedication, communication, loyalty and a flare for marketing are keys to developing successful client relationships. Mary-Lou has a keen desire to promote awareness of VAs as a career option both internationally and at home in Canada and has developed a cost effective, convenient and high quality training program which you can locate at http://vatp.ca/.

No matter what services your Virtual Assistant business offers, at some point you’ll probably be asked to submit a business proposal. When that time comes, it’s important to remember that the best Virtual Assistant may not win the contract, but the best proposal probably will.

A proposal is more than a quote or description of how you would do the job. It’s a sales tool. To win the contract, your proposal must be well-written and do a fantastic job of selling you and your VA business.

Every business proposal should include a description of the project and how you would complete the project. It should also include an estimated timeline for project completion and a breakdown of costs. But, for your proposal to stand out, it needs to have that something “extra” to help your potential client make his decision.

Here are three ways to make your proposals stand out from the rest.

1. Describe the benefits of contracting your Virtual Assistant business. Describing how you will complete the project isn’t enough. Explain how and why you can do it better than your competitors. You may have included the benefits of contracting you on your website or in a brochure sent along with your proposal, but write them out here again anyway. When your prospect reads your proposal, don’t assume she will take the additional time needed to visit your website or read your marketing collaterals.

2. Include samples and testimonials. Your potential client may have visited your website and seen your work samples and testimonials. Perhaps you were highly recommended by a friend or acquaintance. But don’t rely on your prospect’s memory.

Include samples or pictures of your work in your proposal. Include two or three relevant testimonials. Remind them why they liked you in the first place. Don’t take the chance that they’ll remember on their own, because they probably won’t.

3. Make it easy to read. Ensure your information is organized and easy to read. Use headings to separate the information you present and an easy-to-read font. Some important sections to include are a project description, what you can deliver (with samples and testimonials), a breakdown of costs, your guarantee (if you offer one), and an estimated time for completion.

No one can guarantee you’ll win every contract, but by incorporating these elements into your next proposal, you’ll ensure it will be read and that it will leave a positive impression of your Virtual Assistant business.

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Denise Willms is a former Virtual Assistant who now helps other moms work from home. Her free weekly newsletter WAHM-Articles Ezine is packed full of expert advice, inspiration and information for work at home moms.

Owning your own business means you can set it up to work for you. How is your business structured?

There is so much to think about and know when starting your own business. Different people have different opinions and information on how or what you can do when setting up your business structure. Don’t talk to just one person but take the time to talk to various business owners, specifically VA’s, to find out what worked for them. I will share with you what I know.

What is the difference between sole proprietorship and incorporation?

As a sole proprietor you are the business and you, as the owner, receive all the profits and, assume and accept all the risks personally. Business income or loss is reported on a personal basis to the tax department and not by the business.

Incorporation creates a new legal entity. With an incorporated business you detach yourself from the business in a legal and tax sense. In case of a lawsuit or judgment against your business, no one can seize your personal assets, e.g. your house, car, boat, bank accounts, etc. unless you have pledged these as collateral.
Should I incorporate my business?

This is one of the big questions. Incorporation is the best protection for personal assets, however, there are other liabilities you may not be able to avoid by incorporating. For example, if you do not remit certain taxes, you could be held liable as a director of the company. Fees for incorporation can range between $600 and $2,000.

That said, given the nature of the services provided by a VA, with the exception of legal related clients, it is generally not necessary to incorporate however the best bet is to check with a law firm, accountant or local government office to research if this will be an advantage to your business.
What do I do once I have decided on a business name?

If you have your business name it is a good idea to register it with your local government agency. While you may be able to still use your company name without registering it, it will not prevent someone else from picking and registering the business name and may create legal problems for you down the road. Also if you wish to set up a business bank account in the company name it must be registered.
Do I have to open up a business bank account?

It is not necessary, especially when you are starting out, to have a business account for your business. That said it, it adds to your professionalism to have one, so the decision to open a business account is a personal one.

Business accounts generally charge more for transactions however they do allow checks to be written or sent in the company name. They are also required when acquiring a merchant or credit card account.

If you decide not to open a business account you can still operate under your company name (registered or not) however checks must be written in your name. This can cause some confusion with new client initially so make this clear on your invoices. Be sure to open a checking account separate from your personal one to process your business transactions through.
Do I need to be able to accept credit cards?

This also is not necessary however it makes processing client payments quick and easy. Depending on your credit rating, length of time in business, number of transactions to be posted etc. you may not qualify for a merchant account or they may require a large security deposit. One way around this is to open a PayPal account. The challenge with this is your client must also have a PayPal account in order to process the transactions.

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Mary-Lou Ashon successfully launched her Virtual Assistant company in 1997 and holds expertise in organizing information, creation and implementation of administrative procedures and marketing. She has proven that dedication, communication, loyalty and a flare for marketing are keys to developing successful client relationships. Mary-Lou has a keen desire to promote awareness of VA\'s as a career option both internationally and at home in Canada and has developed a cost effective, convenient and high quality training program which you can locate at http://vatp.ca/.

Look back on the year just passed and celebrate your accomplishments. There is so much you have done this year that is worthy of your notice and appreciation.

There are times in the developing and growing of any business that you will wonder why you are doing this at all. There will be times when you are overwhelmed and questioning your decision to go into business for yourself. It is during these periods that a mission statement can be a lifesaver. A mission statement is a summary of why it is all worth it. Let's take a look at your mission in this edition.

What exactly is a mission statement?

One definition of a mission is an aim in life arising from a conviction or a sense of calling. It should be a single sentence and easily memorized and understood. A mission statement describes who you are, and why you are in business.
What is the difference between a mission statement and a vision?

A vision is about the impact we want to have in the world. It is an idea or an image of a more desirable future and your articulation of a destination towards which you will aim. They are usually broad, sweeping, and inspiring—but believable. A vision needs to be huge, one that will keep the passion and energy alive for the lifetime of your business venture. It is also written in the present tense as if it has already been achieved.

A mission is a statement of how you will achieve your vision. What action you will take or services you will provide, to who and how they will benefit from them. It is the 'how' of realizing your vision.

How can I create a mission statement?

Ask your self the following questions:

* What is the purpose of the business? Why am I in business?
* What activity am I going to do to accomplish my purpose?
* What are the basic beliefs I hold as a business owner?
* What, in the end, do I want to be remembered for?

What do I use it for?

The importance of mission statements is summarized quite eloquently by Lewis Caroll through the words of the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland, "If you don't know where you're going, it doesn't matter which way you go." With this in mind keeping your mission clearly in front of you on the wall in your office will support you through those tough days. Posting it on your web site and using it in marketing materials communicates the essence of your business to the public. It can also you in creating your credo or elevator speech.
What is your mission statement?

The mission of the Virtual Assistant Training Program is "To create, develop and deliver cost effective, convenient, high quality training to individuals wishing to pursue the Virtual Assistant profession.”

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Mary-Lou Ashon successfully launched her Virtual Assistant company in 1997 and holds expertise in organizing information, creation and implementation of administrative procedures and marketing. She has proven that dedication, communication, loyalty and a flare for marketing are keys to developing successful client relationships. Mary-Lou has a keen desire to promote awareness of VAs as a career option both internationally and at home in Canada and has developed a cost effective, convenient and high quality training program which you can locate at http://vatp.ca/.

What impact do you want to have on the world? What will provide inspiration to pull you through the tough times? Picture the vision.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "I have a dream," and what followed was a vision that changed a nation. That famous speech is an excellent example of the power generated by a compelling vision of the future.

A vision clarifies purpose, gives direction, and empowers us to perform beyond our resources. Unless you know where you are going you cannot get there. You don't "need" a vision, or a mission statement, but those people with clearly defined visions experience greater success than those who haven't any. Which one will you be?

What exactly is a vision statement?

A vision is not about yourself or monetary goals, it is however personal. It should be imaginative, bold and audacious—representing a real challenge. It is an idea or image of a more desirable future and your articulation of a destination towards which you will aim. Keep in mind it should be written in the present tense as if it has already been achieved.
What is the difference between a vision and a mission statement?

A mission statement answers the questions: Why does my business exist? What business am I in? What values guide the business? A vision, however, is broader and encompasses more. It answers the question, what will success look like? It is the pursuit of success that will really motivate you.

How can I create a vision statement?

First answer or consider the following:

* What are the things I really enjoy doing?
* What brings me happiness/joy?
* What issues do I care deeply about?
* What things can I do at the good to excellent level?

Next consider your business 5 to 10 years down the road when you have achieved tremendous success.

* What will success look like?
* What tasks and activities are you engaged in?
* What real value are clients receiving?
* What do I envision in a perfect world for the world at large?
* What is the legacy I want to leave behind?

Keeping your mission statement and what it represents in mind then create your vision.
What do I use it for?

A great vision compels action and attracts the participation of others creating a natural “pull” system. You will never be greater than the vision that guides you. Out of your passion for the ideal will come great momentum and energy to carry you forward during the tougher times in your start up period.

Yale University surveyed the graduating class of 1953 to determine if they had written goals for what they wanted their lives to become. Only three percent had a vision. Twenty years later in 1973, the surviving members were surveyed again. The three percent who had a vision had accumulated greater wealth than the other 97 percent combined!

Know your vision and let the world know too.
What is your vision?

My vision for the Virtual Assistant Training Program is "The profession of Virtual Assistants is part of our everyday language.”

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Mary-Lou Ashon successfully launched her Virtual Assistant company in 1997 and holds expertise in organizing information, creation and implementation of administrative procedures and marketing. She has proven that dedication, communication, loyalty and a flare for marketing are keys to developing successful client relationships. Mary-Lou has a keen desire to promote awareness of VAs as a career option both internationally and at home in Canada and has developed a cost effective, convenient and high quality training program which you can locate at http://vatp.ca/.

Does your web site speak to potential clients? Does it accurately reflect who you are and how you can help?

This edition of the Ask the Master newsletter is dedicated to my web master, Marjorie Milliken of Farsite, who, in my opinion, is one of the best in the business.

In a virtual profession one of the greatest and far reaching brochures you can have is your web site. This marketing tool allows a unique way to showcase who you are, what you do and how you can help potential clients.

Let’s see what we need to know about building your web site.

Where do I start?

There are a few things you can do to get started on building a web site. First gather all your company information and marketing materials as you will need to provide the content for the site and it can usually be pulled from what you already have. Check to make sure the materials are consistent and brand your company i.e. colour, logos, missions etc.

The second thing you need to do is make sure you have your domain name registered and the user name and password from the domain registrar. Make sure you register the domains yourself so you actually have ownership not your hosting company or web designer.

Finally you need to find yourself a web designer. This may prove to be a more daunting task than you may think and you want to make sure you take the time to find the right person.

How do I find the right web designer?

You may find, especially if you do your own web pages, that I take a strong stand on web designers, however, for me web sites are about professional image and how you present your company to the world so I believe I need to have a strong stand. There is nothing worse than an unprofessional or poorly functioning web site. That said…

Front Page is not a software program used by professional web designers. Adobe Go Live, Macromedia Dream Weaver or Fireworks are some of the top design programs. Ask potential designers what they are using.

Ask to see their portfolios. If they are professional designers and know what they are doing they will have one and be very open to sharing that information. Be wary of someone who is just starting out and remember that you get what you pay for!! A freebie site is a freebie site.

Ask for referrals and talk to previous customers. Find out what they liked and what they didn’t like about the service. What was the turn around times like for requests (this is a big problem in the industry)?

A good web designer knows about site architecture and navigation. They know how to do graphics for the web, they know HTML and they know how to convert graphics to HTML. They have tools for site management, which include the ability to install functionality such as newsletters, and forms. They also know about building good metatags for your site so it can be found on the net. They know how to build a site that works and looks professional. I have seen too many VA sites that don’t work well, or properly, and look unprofessional.
What happens now I have found a web designer?

You will need to begin building your site map, which you can think of as similar to a flow chart or organizational chart. You will need to decide what your main navigation or sections will be. They will typically include a home page, products and service, company information and contact page. You can make them anything you want and remember these will be (or should be) site wide. From there you will have to decide what subsections under each may exist.

As far as the content of the site is concerned start with the five “W’s”. Who, what, where, when and why. You want to make sure you include your company name (obviously), logo, tagline, company mission statement and the site mission statement (what is the purpose of the site?). Remember to use existing materials to pull information from.
What do I need to be aware of as I create the site?

Make sure you speak to your potential clients. If you were considering hiring a VA what would you need to hear in order for you to move forward with that decision? What is the benefit to them should they hire you? Why should they hire you over all the other VA’s?

Always remember to add value. Offer them something for free such as a newsletter, an assessment, a consultation, resources or a free trial. Make it worth their while to visit your site and they will tell others about it.
Where should I host my web site?

I recommend you use a national hosting company versus someone with a server in their basement. Be careful of resellers. This is another one of those you get what you pay for deals.

Pay attention to what you get for your dollar. Does the package include email aliases, pop accounts, auto responders, domain forwarding, web site statistics, 24/7 technical support etc. How much storage do you get and how much bandwidth? This site provides monthly top hosting companies http://ca.tophosts.com .

I personally use NetNation at http://www.netnation.com .

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Mary-Lou Ashon successfully launched her Virtual Assistant company in 1997 and holds expertise in organizing information, creation and implementation of administrative procedures and marketing. She has proven that dedication, communication, loyalty and a flare for marketing are keys to developing successful client relationships. Mary-Lou has a keen desire to promote awareness of VAs as a career option both internationally and at home in Canada and has developed a cost effective, convenient and high quality training program which you can locate at http://vatp.ca/.