Your shingle, proclaiming “Jane or Joe Smith Virtual Assistant Services”, bounces around and blows in the cyber-wind. Proudly, and rightly so, you sport your membership in several like organizations and online networking forums. But where do you go from here? How do you build upon your current knowledge, skills and abilities as you work to increase your local/global awareness and visibility? And at what cost? Particularly since many of your hard-earned pennies have already been set aside for start-up, for marketing, and for ongoing office essentials!



“Word of mouth”, in this case that “word” garnered from interaction with members and guests at industry message boards (such as the virtual assistant forums), can become the charcoal starter to whoosh your business bonfire into action. There's barely a greater catalyst than “talking up something” with someone who “gets you!”

Since you're already connected to the internet, you'll not want to hesitate to let Yahoo and Google be your friends. Take the time to cruise around various like-minded message boards and websites, and sites you may see in signature lines of posters at the forums you frequent; sign up for their newsletters or any other special offers. You can also nose around Ryze.com, a business networking forum. Read “Entrepreneur” and other industry magazines. Even articles written by industry peers submitted to various article databanks are a great resource to discover the availability of upcoming and ongoing teleconferences, teleseminars, teleclasses, and other online workshops.

Now, you may argue that you can't attend a tele-anything; whether it's a teleconference, a teleseminar, an online wokshop, or an e-session by any other name. It surely can't be because you don't have anything to wear; these sessions can be attended from your home (office) in your choice of the comfort of your pajamas, your shorts, your high heels or any other desired get-up. Only you and your hairdresser will know for sure.

Is your argument that you're technologically-challenged? There are now, on the market, many easy-to-use software programs and electronic devices to enable ease of attendance at these classes and seminars. Additionally, moderators of these presentations are ready and willing to tutor those less inclined toward cyber technology. Fellow attendees are eagerly provide basic start up lessons to get you into that specific e-mode of learning, and help to keep you there.

Once you've zeroed in on a venue, a presenter and a course topic, think not only about what you'll be getting, but about what actually is happening here. You're getting a tremendous opportunity to interact with like-minded individuals from around the country (that's “the country”, people); how else can you attend an e-happening located in Canada, interact with persons from England and Australia and New Zealand, as you physically sit in your office (or lounge in a recliner in your living room) in Texas, USA?

The savings for the seminar/class in time and money alone are incredible because you aren't spending day/s traveling; nor is it necessary to up-end your piggy bank to pay for travel costs, and high-priced meals. Lodging, too, on such trips, though probably at a group rate, can further strain a small budget.

Even though online sessions by design encompass several time zones, you'll still be able to weave yourself throughout your family's needs as you enjoy the e-presentation. You can take notes during the class, and have more than ample opportunity to ask questions. If a session is scheduled at a time that conflicts with another session you want to attend because a time zone is not quite compatible with yours, or some other challenge unexpectedly interferes, an audio recording will be available to review later. In fact, the recordings are an added benefit because you can leisurely listen to and digest the recorded presentations at your own speed at a date and time you choose.

How often does Microsoft change its programs? Or how frequently do Compaq and Gateway design and market new computers and other hardware? In order to remain competitive and noticeable in today's corporate world, whether that's the “brick and mortar” variety or the cyber highway, it's essential to continually strive to increase one's marketability.

Toward this end, it's imperative for Virtual Assistants to persist in their search for the means to obtain additional knowledge and skills that will continue to shape and increase their existing capabilities as they guard against becoming outdated and stagnant. To this end, one method from which to really benefit is an online teleclass/seminar; the advantages you'll receive will be enhanced and matched by the emphasis you put into them.

We truly are in an incredible day and age to be able to participate in sessions such as these. Accordingly, in order to grow, it's important to not lose the vision that though the Client may have the “oldest and slowest”, he will be seeking the Virtual Assistant with the “newest and fastest” ilk -- the “thoroughly modern” one.

Of course “it's keeping up with the Joneses”; but it's also taking the right steps to be where you need to be to survive and thrive in an ever-changing industry.