That is the question! However, if you are a business who has set up a profile at Facebook, rather than a page, you are in danger of having it shut down! How do you know the difference? The quickest way to tell is whether people have to click on 'add friend' to be connected to you, or whether they can just click on 'like' to follow your page. If the latter, then you're ok, but if the former, you're not. What happens if you've built up a large friend base and suddenly Facebook shuts your profile … [Read more...]
Are you coming to AVAC in 2014?
In case you haven't yet caught up with the news, the 5th annual Australian Virtual Assistants Conference (AVAC) is being held in March 2014 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC). We have our speakers in place now and you can view them on the site. A really great lineup with some really great names there. The subcommittee based in Qld are doing a great job helping Anita and I put this together, our 5th annual event. Each year the event has gotten better and better and we're … [Read more...]
New milestone pending!
As my regular readers will know, I've been in this industry for quite some time. In fact, my 20th anniversary in business will be in March 2014. Not that far away. It was in April 1996 that I began the network, initially for home-based secretaries, and then we changed our titles to Virtual Assistants as that term became popular around the world. Seems such a long time ago now. What is the new milestone pending? The 1400th VA to join the "A Clayton's Secretary" network. We're only a few off … [Read more...]
Video clip about how a Virtual Assistant can help a business client
I've taken the plunge and had a video created for my website. I'd held off for quite awhile. I'm not a fan of videos for a number of reasons: I don't like those that start as soon as you visit a site. I don't like how-to sites that only produce videos and not text instructions as well (I prefer to read ahead to what I want to know, rather than wait for that bit on the video). And so many I've seen are 'off-the-cuff' and not very professional at all (usually web cam). The cost seemed quite … [Read more...]
Will you be attending office show this week in Sydney?
You may, or may not, be aware that I will be presenting at the OfficeShow this coming week in Sydney at the exhibition centre. Below is a post from the AVAA website with the details. If you would like to attend the morning tea please email me as soon as possible so I can add your name to the RSVP list. There is also a VA Meetup over dinner on Wednesday 16th October @ 6.30pm at Cyren. Again, we need to know numbers so if you could please RSVP for that also, that would be appreciated. Hope to … [Read more...]
Is this job a scam?
This is something I see posted on the VA forums from time to time and it amazes me that some cannot see common sense with the jobs that are offered. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, unsure, uneasy, then there is a good reason for it. If the job requires you to handle the client's money to pay their bills and buy things - DON'T do it! Never, ever take on jobs that require you to pay bills on behalf of clients or do shopping for them. Nor accept their mail for them or buy gifts on their … [Read more...]
When the client search is on
When we are new in business, or business is slow, the client search takes place. Sometimes it's hard to know where to look, what to do, who to contact, in order to secure clients quickly. After all we're in business to make money and to do that we need clients. Where do they come from? They should come via our own efforts of networking, connecting with people, both offline and online, and helping people to learn about our services. They should come from our own personal databases and personal … [Read more...]
AVAA Members Breakfast at the Office* Show
You are invited to attend a special AVAA Members Breakfast at the office* Show. Time: 8:30am – 9.30am Date: Thursday 17 October, 2013 Venue:Interactive Demo Theatre, office* Show – Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre At the breakfast, Kathie Thomas, President of the Australian Virtual Assistants Association, will introduce the topic of what a Virtual Assistant is and how the industry began. Few people would know that it started in Australia the same time as the US – ahead of the rest of … [Read more...]
Being friends with the client
A couple of my VA team members have contacted me recently about past clients and shared some insights with me and their experiences. We all thought that this might make a good topic. It's probably something you don't think of when you're new in business and I'm sure it's probably something that has happened to many who have been in business for some time. What am I talking about? The client who takes one step closer and decides that you've become their friend. As such they'll start sharing all … [Read more...]
