Web URL: http://www.alternativeofficeassistance.com
In Business Since: 2005
Type of Business: Virtual Assistance, Inbound Marketing
Works: I do 90% virtual but service a few local clients – and I try to convert them to virtual, too!
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Twitter ID: @ DianeCovilleAOA
Ruth: Welcome to the blog, Diane. It’s great to have you here and be able to share more about you with the readers. Tell us about inbound marketing and Alternative Office Assistance.
Diane: My company is Alternative Office Assistance, created in January 2005. I provide Inbound Marketing Services to small, medium and corporate business locally, nationally and internationally. Clients come to me when they have a website which isn’t generating the kind of business they want. They may want a higher ranking in Search Engines or more recognition and presence for their brand and their website. They may be contemplating the addition of Social Media to their marketing efforts or want to develop a plan adding Content Marketing, Video Marketing, Blog Marketing, Social Media Marketing and/or Mobile Marketing. Inbound Marketing brings targeted traffic to their site. I consult, train and/or implement according to the client’s needs.
Ruth: I’ve heard the term inbound marketing but hadn’t fully realized what it encompassed. It’s good to have a better understanding. Would you share what led you to consider a virtual profession and how you got started?
Diane: I had a career in Toronto, Ontario as an administrative assistant and then executive assistant for many years and then the market changed and most administration jobs became contract positions with a beginning and an end. Due to change in family dynamics, I moved to Barrie, Ontario – a great place to raise a daughter but limited job opportunities, so I took my skills and started my own company.
Originally, I started my business offering administrative support locally but I was no competition for the Manpowers out there. I connected with the CVAC (Canadian Virtual Assistant Connection) which was luckily based out of my city. The lady who founded this network actually subcontracted some of her work to me and I became focused on offering services “virtually”.
After a few years of doing the basic administrative tasks – bookkeeping, desktop publishing, data entry, telesales, etc. I joined VANA (Virtual Assistants Networking Association) and started attending their weekly webinars. One of their speakers was Mari Smith, a Social Media expert just when Social Media was starting to catch on. She mesmerized me – I got it! I started using Social Media in my business and started making valuable connections and getting clients. I never looked back.
VANA had another webinar featuring Craig Cannings of VAClassroom. I became a Certified Social Media Marketing Specialist and then Certified Internet Marketing Specialist through VAClassroom courses. I could visualize an excellent opportunity in niching my services specifically to Inbound Marketing and suddenly I had found the best fit for all my skills and experience and my sales/marketing background in the Corporate world.
Ruth: Those aha-moments can be amazing. It’s awesome how everything fell into place with all of your skills and talents being blended into this specialized marketing. Along the way have you had a mentor to support, guide, encourage and open doors for you?
Diane: I find the virtual assistance industry outstanding for the sharing and mentoring offered by other virtual assistants. I made valuable connections with other VAs through both of the above organizations and found many opportunities for sub-contractor work to build my experience. I can’t point to any one person – there have been many generous individuals who have shared, guided and advised me when I asked.
And, in turn, I have mentored up-and-coming virtual assistants in return. I have had many former administrative assistants who have been laid off due to downsizing and come to me disillusioned and looking at virtual assistance as a possible alternative in order to make the best use of their skills and experience and have more control of their careers and continuing income. I have provided information, links to these VA organizations, and highly recommend they consider sub-contracting when they start out to get the experience and decide if the virtual assistant industry is the right fit for them.
Ruth: If you could share a nugget of insight or bit of advice for someone considering a virtual career such as yours what would that be?
Diane: I could suggest a few nuggets:
- Do your research on the industry.
- Join VA organizations such as VANA (VAnetworking), IVAA (International Virtual Assistant Association), CVAC (Canadian Virtual Assistant Connection – for Canadian virtual assistants only), and there are many others. They have many ways you can network with their members.
- Once you have made connections, try to find a Mentoring VA who can help you along the way.
- Consider sub-contracting to VA groups. It is a great way to get experience, get mentoring from other VA’s, and get referrals. It is a win-win situation.
- If your budget will allow, take a VA course. I highly recommend VAClassroom who has many to choose from but most of the VA Organizations offer courses and How-To books as well.
- Consider getting specialized training in one niche area depending on your skills and what you like to do, i.e. bookkeeping, copywriting, social media, a medical or legal specialty, marketing, event planning and the list goes on and on.
- Get out there and network locally and on-line and don’t forget to contact business connections you have made in the past to help spread the word about your business.
Ruth: That’s seven great suggestions, Diane! Now tell me, what bits of advice would you give someone seeking a virtual professional such as yourself?
Diane: I offer an initial free consult. I’m ready to listen to what clients say and then ask questions to clarify their problems and how I can help them solve their issues. I believe in giving clients added service. I don’t just provide the services but give them added value by offering suggestions to help them. This has many benefits such as illustrating how vested I am in the success of their business, exhibiting my expertise, and creating an opportunity to gain extra business by adding on additional service offerings or referrals to trusted colleagues.
Ruth: You clearly put your client first and I’ll bet you have very satisfied and happy clients. Any last thoughts or comments you’d like to share with our readers?
Diane: For the aspiring and newly emerging VAs: If you’ve done the research and decide Virtual Assistance is exactly what you want to do, don’t ever look back! Everything takes time including growing a business. While you are getting the experience and training and looking for clients, set up your systems and processes. Always take time to update your skills and learn more. Ask for help when you run into issues – there will ALWAYS be VAs who are willing to share and mentor. And don’t give up! Remember to gather your “testimonials” from every client you have serviced. Ask for feedback from clients – Did you meet their expectations? Did you meet their customer satisfaction?
Ruth: Thanks so much for chatting with me, Diane.
If you’d like to connect with Diane to tackle your inbound marketing needs contact her at http://www.alternativeofficeassistance.com.