Are you getting your full member benefits?

Reading a discussion on a VA forum recently, a VA queried whether it was worth being a member of a particular VA network and the questions they asked indicated they weren’t fully aware of what was available to them with that particular network.  Several gave suggestions and below is my answer.

Any business group or network is worth giving a try for a full 12 months. It takes a while to understand how any group works and takes a while to get into the swing of things. Make sure you join their discussion group at yahoogroups and even at LinkedIn. You’ll learn so much from other members there – members who have been VAs for many years. And do read everything you can about being a member so you get the most out of it. I know, from experience of running a group, that only a percentage of members ever take full advantage of their memberships. Many just stay on the sidelines, don’t participate in discussions, don’t respond to client requests and don’t ask questions to find out what else they can be doing. A shame really. Make your membership $$ work for you and fully partake of all your member benefits.

I was referring to my own VA network, of course, where I know that not all members partake of their member benefits. Some don’t create their page for the website, many don’t respond to client requests, or, if they do, it is often several days later.  And there are more I don’t see participating in the discussion groups we’ve made available for them, so they can get to know fellow members (who will often sub-contract to fellow members they’ve gotten to know) and learn more about the industry they’re in.

I encourage you all, to fully partake of what has been offered to you as part of your membership. I know that people join networks for many reasons, with #1 being client requests for work to be done, but it helps you a great deal if you make sure you explore what else you can do, to help you develop and expose your VA business online.