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Joining VA Organizations Has Many Benefits
I guess I take for granted the reasons why I belong to several VA organizations. But, to those that are new to any industry, joining an organization made up of your competitors is a valid concern.
Some organizations have members that are from a variety of walks of life (i.e. small business organizations, etc.) while others are more specified and include only members from a specific industry (i.e. VA organizations).
I cannot speak for those in other industries but, for myself and some others I know and associate with in the VA industry, there are several reasons why we join organizations specific to our knowledge. Actually, most of these reasons are probably similar for other organizations and their participants and why they join.
So, why do I join industry specific organizations? Several reasons:
1.
Networking . This is one of the main reasons for joining any organization and is actually part in parcel with all the other reasons I will list here.
Networking with anyone and everyone is essential to the growth of any business, including a Virtual Assistance Business.
This industry is still fairly young and by networking with your peers, we
can all work together to increase the exposure of this industry, thus increasing
the visibility of each individual’s business.
2.
The opportunity to work with fellow VAs . With the increased exposure and acceptance of the VA industry, many veteran VA’s are finding their workloads are getting to a point where they are having to outsource some of their work themselves. If they don’t know about you they won’t even have the chance to consider sending you some of their overflow.
Not to mention, most VAs specialize in certain procedures and, should a task
come up for a client that is not one of their specialties, they may need to
subcontract the project.
3.
Learning from your fellow members . No matter if you are an experienced VA or new to the industry, there is always something to learn from others.
Veteran VAs have been there and done that so they have the voice of experience
to offer. Those new to the industry can sometimes be an excellent source of
new & fresh ideas.
4.
You have the chance to get involved in new ventures . Many veteran VAs collaborate
to initiate new ventures and projects to help enhance the industry. Usually,
during the start up phase of these new ventures, it is common to work with those
that you know and respect and have them involved in the process. By being a
member of an organization and staying involved, you become visible to your fellow
VAs and thus may be requested to become involved in the newest industry-boosting
project.
5.
And finally, one of the perks of joining an organization is the joy of making new friends.
When working from home, which is where most VAs operate their businesses, isolation can become an issue. Being a member of a VA organization results in making friends with fellow VAs, reducing the isolation aspect. These friendships can also result in a mentor type relationship where the two (or more) of you share ideas that will help to boost each other’s businesses and even you personal lives. (Such is the case of myself and my best friend Kathy Ritchie of Ritchie Secretarial Service - www.thebestva.com)
To sum it all up, being a member of an industry specific organization has many benefits and shouldn’t be viewed as associating with the enemy. Try to think of your relationship with your fellow industry members as ‘coopetition’ rather than ‘competition’. By working together we can build the industry as a whole, our own individual businesses and even our personal lives.
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Janice Byer, owner of Docu-Type Administrative & Web Design Services (http://www.docutype.net) provides professional, creative and affordable virtual office assistance and small business website design. She is a Certified Canadian Virtual Assistant (CCVA) and Master Virtual Assistant (MVA). She is also the author of Surfin' The Net - Docu-Type's Virtual Collection of Links, (http://www.docutype.net/SurfinTheNet/linksebook.htm) which is filled with the secrets of her success. Visit her website for more information and to get your copy.
Virtual Community
Staying connected in a virtual profession is very important and one of the reasons I began this newsletter. By strengthening our community we are able to support each other, share ideas, network and grow to the benefit of both our clients and ourselves!
This month I am going to address frequently asked questions about joining VA associations. The why to, when to, and where to.
In alliance with this month's subject I would like to know what you, the subscriber, are looking for from this newsletter. What can I give to you that would bring value as a subscriber? Remember this newsletter is about you, for you and content generated by you, so I need to hear from you and thank you.
Why do I need to develop a virtual community?
It is important to both yourself and your business to stay connected while
working virtually. Working from a home office can sometimes be very isolating
and lonely, and human interaction is necessary to keep us healthy. While you
do have interactions with your clients it is different from that of your peers.
Having a place where you can connect with like-minded people gives you the opportunity
to network, share information and ideas, learn new skills, learn about new technologies,
and develop relationships that otherwise would not be available to you. One
VA can best support and understand another VA.
How do I go about developing my community?
Start with any other VA's you may know and ask them about their communities.
Ask if they belong to any associations and if so which ones? Do they subscribe
to any newsletters that they find valuable? Are there web sites that they visit?
Research the Internet for newsgroups, discussion groups, teleclasses or any
of the above!
How do I know which ones to join?
First of all get clear about what you want to gain from any of these options. Do you want to strictly network? Do you want technical advice or information? Do you want to know about software? Do you want someplace to get your questions answered? Are you looking for resources? Do you want to just connect and converse?
Once you have clarity you can begin to look for something that meets your needs.
Be sure to find out what the purpose of the service is, if there is any kind
of restrictions on subject matter, are they moderated, is there a fee and if
so what does it include and exclude. Ask yourself if they provide what you are
looking for.
When is a good time to join?
Anytime you are feeling isolated, disconnected or frustrated. Reach out to
get the support you need!
What associations do you recommend?
For VA's here in Canada I would suggest the Canadian Virtual Assistant Network, www.canadianva.net and for VA's based elsewhere consider the International Virtual Assistant Association, www.ivaa.org. Ideally you would like them to be non-profit so you know your best interest is at heart.
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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/.
Virtual History in the Making
Some were lucky enough to actually be physically at the event but, for those of us who couldn’t be there, I think we were the lucky ones. Not only did we get to see our fellow VAs, we got to use the latest in technology to do it.
I have voice chatted with others who have Webcams before, but this time was different. This time was special!
There I was, sitting in my home office in Ontario, Canada, and I was seeing and hearing all the participants in Dallas. Not to mention, having private chats with my fellow virtual participants… Kathy Ritchie in Colorado, Diana Ennen in Florida, and Lyn Prowse-Bishop in Brisbane, Australia, as well as others. It was very exciting!
On the right of my computer screen was our typed conversations but when you clicked on the second tab, we could see Fred Gandee’s PowerPoint presentation… the same presentation that was on the physical screen in Dallas, at the same time. What better way to participate in a ground-breaking event when you can’t be physically there?
Although I would have loved to be there to shake the hands of my fellow VAs and go out for that Texas breakfast that they all raved about, being there Virtually was definitely the next best thing. Being a part of history in the making was, and still is, a very exhilarating feeling.
Oh… and the seminar we had the honour of attending… great job Fred! I learned a lot and was glad to hear the input of others in our industry.
To all the organizers… what a fabulous job you all did. You should be very proud!
To all the Webtrain staff that were there both physically and virtually present… you have a wonderful service in this chat software that was used for us to be able to join in. I will definitely be recommending your service to others!
And, to all the participants, both physically and virtually present… it was great to see and chat with all of you and to share in this historic event!
Personally, I can’t wait for the Second Annual VA Conference, whether I am physically or virtually present!
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Janice Byer, owner of Docu-Type Administrative & Web Design Services (http://www.docutype.net) provides professional, creative and affordable virtual office assistance and small business website design. She is a Certified Canadian Virtual Assistant (CCVA) and Master Virtual Assistant (MVA). She is also the author of Surfin' The Net - Docu-Type's Virtual Collection of Links, (http://www.docutype.net/SurfinTheNet/linksebook.htm) which is filled with the secrets of her success. Visit her website for more information and to get your copy.
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