The WAH Expo was a success!
Posted by Tammy Munson
Thank you so much for the great expo that we had!! We would like to thank all exhibitors, featured speakers, sponsors and of course the attendees… we couldn’t have done it without you! A very special thanks goes out to our volunteer team as well!
Wendy and I are working on the expo library and should be available in the next few days. Remember, you get access to ALL the exhibitor presentations, featured speaker seminars, and interviews all for $49.99! You can purchase the expo pass HERE
Ready for more of the WAH Expo? Well, Wendy and I have decided that we will be doing the expo every 4 months instead of just twice per year! The next WAH Expo is scheduled for November 14 -16, so make sure that you are on the mailing list to receive expo updates from us. You can sign up here if you haven’t already!
Thanks again,
Tammy & Wendy
Business & Learning/WAH Expo
PS. Had fun networking? Come join us at our weekly networking chat… every Tuesday at 9pm EST in the conference room!
Sharon Williams - OIVAC - Questions for Virtual Assistant
Posted by Wendy
1. When a VA does consulting, does he/she charge a separate rate for the hours spent consulting compared to the hours they spend doing the work? or do some VA’s give that information away for free to all their clients as a part of their service?
Wikipedia.org defines consulting as “providing expert advice in a particular domain or area of expertise,†therefore consulting should be considered chargeable time working with or on behalf of a client. Although, I am sure there are instances when the VA does not charge for every consultation. However, in most cases, consulting should be a chargeable activity. In many cases, it is billed as the same rate as established in the written agreement. However, if the consultations are not in any way related to the contractual relationship, I would advise that the client be charged your normal consulting fee.
2. I always wondered how VA’s figure a block of time. How are you guaranteed that the work will be completed in their figured time slot?
Actually, you are not guaranteed that work will be completed in a set amount of time, as consideration should be given for the possibility of setbacks, the original assignment may require more work than originally plan or even expanded to include additional responsibilities. This is a perfect example for demonstrating the need for “communication†between the VA and client. If the VA finds (for whatever reason) the assignment may be more involved or require more time than originally anticipated, she should inform the client and ascertain if she should continue, or change course, etc. Time spent working on projects can easily be tracked by utilizing TimeTrax or another time monitoring program.
Under another scenario, if the client signs a 20 hour a month agreement and the time required to complete assigned tasks consistently exceeds 20 hours, the parties should discuss the possibility of increasing the number of service hours allocated in the contract. Other options to consider include decreasing the number and frequency of task performance, or reevaluating the work flow and determine if there are easier, less time consuming methods available to accomplish goals.
3. What is the average rate per hour? How do you determine what is a decent rate?
A Virtual Assistant determines her own rates. In making that determination, she factors in her knowledge, experience, training, niche and skills, as well as overhead, technologies, and other tangible and nontangible influences that impact her lifestyle, financial obligations and goals. As a result, the rate is subjective and contingent upon how the VA values and feels her target market will value her services, as well as her perception of what the global marketplace will bear.
4. Do all VA’s do web and graphic design?
No! While virtual assistants use the Internet as a tool and resource to service clients, many have little or no desire and/or are not qualified to provide web and graphic design work. My response, however, is solely based on addressing if the VA is interested in providing web site and graphic design services. It does not apply to Internet research, marketing, implementation and application of various internet-based software, etc., all of which may be part of the VAs toolkit of service offerings.
5. How will a VA make me money? Are they responsible for creating my income?
In the strictest sense of the concept, VAs do not generate your income. VAs, however, indirectly assist in generating income because we provide support services that enable the client to sell products/services to a targeted audience. For instance, if the client schedules a teleconference, she will need back office support in preparing for the event. Examples of this support include: drafting materials/articles and distributing them via autoresponder and internet-based article banks. The VA may also perform research to determine the appropriate venues to conduct prelaunch internet-based and offline interviews promoting the event. She may also mange the client’s database, transcribe the recording, and handle fulfillment duties after the event. Now did the VA actually make money for her client – in a nontangible sense, yes. But most important, she assumed responsibilities the client would have performed, and as a result of her involvement the client acquired time to prepare teleconference materials, is available for interviews, may develop workbooks, giveaways and items for sale, etc.
Well, it’s time to run to visit Karen McGreevey of Konceptuality. Yesterday, I had a long chat with Yamisi Daniel of InTouch Virtual Assistance. It was a pleasure speaking with her because she is a brand new VA and I always enjoy responding to questions from newbies. Today’s scrambled puzzle phrase clue is: isetaomnslti. See you at tomorrow’s stop and at the OIVAC.
About Sharon Williams
Sharon is the Chairperson of the Alliance for Virtual Businesses and OIVAC, and president of The 24 Hour Secretary an administrative, secretarial and internet-based marketing support services company. She is the 2006 recipient of the Thomas Leonard International Virtual Assistant of Distinction Award and co-founder of Virtual Business University an e-learning environment for entrepreneurs ready to step towards their greatness.
Work at Home Expo Day 1
Posted by Tammy Munson
We are so jazzed to have the Expo start today!!! Please join us in the conference room which you can access here - http://www.businessandlearning.com/expo.html - be sure to turn your speakers on!
Tammy wants you all to enjoy the Expo so much she put together a handbook for the expo!! You can access that by visiting - http://www.businessandlearning.com/pdf/wahe_may2007.pdf
Our Sponsors and Exhibitors want you to enjoy the Expo too!!! Check the home page for the list prizes that will be given out throughout the expo - it will be up later today - http://www.businessandlearning.com
Here is today’s schedule (all times are EASTERN):
10:30am - Open Networking - Come and see what the Expo is all about!
11:30am - Wendy Cooper - Networking Etiquette, Tips and Tricks
12:00pm - Teresa Morrow - How to Successfully be in Business with Your Spouse.
12:30pm - Open Networking - We want to get to know you!
1:00pm - Business and Learning FlashCast - Time Management Working From Home
1:30pm - Open Networking - Come and meet people at the Expo!
2:00pm - Susan Payton - How to Market on a Shoestring Budget
2:30pm - PodTalkDivas - Live interviews at the Expo!!
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3:00pm - 6:00pm - Networking and Shopping
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6:00pm - Pat Hansen - Pictures + Food = Money Join us to Learn more and Make money while having fun with all 3
6:30pm - Candace Pendleton - Live Wealthy Now
7:30pm - Amy Dykens - Building a Content Based Website
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FEATURED SPEAKERS
8:00pm - Shannon Cherry - Reach for Your Star by Grabbing Your 15 Minutes (or More!) of Fame
9:00pm - Bunmi Zalob - The Secret for Moms- The Lost Art of UnBusy
Please visit http://businessandlearning.com/may-07-speakers.html to access the whole week long event calendar - there are some fantastic speakers and presenters!!
A HUGE thanks to our Sponsors!!
Coastal Vacations - Skydel Enterprises - http://www.ireallyamworking.com/
WAHM Talk Radio - http://www.wahmtalkradio.com
WAHM Cart - http://wahmcart.com
Mineral Girlz - http://www.beautygirlz.com/
Image Ready Media - http://www.imagereadymedia.com
Egg Marketing and Public Relations - http://www.eggmarketingpr.com/
Heritage Makers - http://www.heritagefun.com
Site Build It - http://results.sitesell.com/Doodlebug.html - Who is also offering all of our Attendees a FR*EE Business Resources “Guide to Online Success” which can be found here - http://find.sitesell.com/
Wooohoooo!!! See you at the Expo!!
Tammy & Wendy
OIVAC Blog Tour May 9th
Posted by Wendy
Do you want to know more about Virtual Assistants? How to hire one? What sort of tasks they do? How to become one?
Well here’s your chance!!
Sharon Williams, (http://www.oivac.com) also known as the Podcast and Blog Hopping Virtual Assistant, will be visiting the Business and Learning blog to answer your questions about Virtual Assistants!
For more information and to view the schedule for the OIVAC Blog Tour please visit - http://www.oivac.com/hoppingtour.htm - or you can read the press release by clicking here - http://www.oivac.com/pressreleases.htm
Please post any questions you have about VA’s and we’ll send them along to Sharon and then post them here.
See you soon Sharon!
Wendy
Less than a week….
Posted by Tammy Munson
We are so excited that you’ve RSVP’ed to attend the WAH Expo! Please feel free to spread the word!
We have some fantastic presentations and speakers this year!!
Here’s a list of the featured speakers who will be presenting in the evenings:
Shannon Cherry - Reach for Your Star by Grabbing Your 15 Minutes (or More!) of Fame
Tara Crooks - Finding a Niche Market
Felicia Slattery - Increase Business by Communicating Your Credibility
Kelly McCausey - Edible Businesses’ - making money in food/cooking related business
Bunmi Zalob - The Secret for Moms- The Lost Art of UnBusy
Kelly Howard - From Business Casual to PJs & Slippers
Kim Emerson - Discover the Power Within You
Tammy Munson and Amanda Hamm - Why you should use audio/ podcasting as a marketing tool
There are some awesome presentations booked during the day as well:
Amy Dykens - Building a Content Based Website
Jessica Colon - Relationship/ Referral Marketing
Ginger Marks - The Five Key Elements of Business Image Design
Jennifer Brown Price - What is Mineral Girlz?
Nancy Macdonald - Working Online and Transferring Your Skills
Jani Teeter - 10 Keys to Success in your Home Based Business
Robert A. Kearse - How to Make Huge Profits from Free Advertising
Debra Simpson - Be An Author and Make Money From Your Website
… With MORE to come!!
See you at the expo!