Twitter, Slow & Steady (part 1),
July 27, 2009
My slow approach to Twitter
A presence or participation in Social Media is becoming one of the major concentrations for marketing a business, and the general understanding in media forms like Twitter is that more followers = better. I agree that the point of Twitter is to make connections, and the medium enables a person to network with more people in less time than traditional face to face events/opportunities. Those that are truly successful are able to pull people to their websites and newsletters by clicking links in their tweets.
I have been developing my Twitter network with the intent to “network” – not sell myself or my services. This is a different approach, I think, from those who use Twitter as a strategic marketing tool.
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Virtual Assistants featured on the Today Show
July 12, 2009
A few months ago, the Today Show ran a piece on virtual assistants. Obviously, as a business owner that offers online administrative and executive assistance, I am excited to see informed and positive coverage of the rising industry in the media!
So many people outside the industry are unfamiliar with what a virtual assistant can do for their business. I often relate to others that Edge VA offers online secretarial services and virtual executive assistance for small businesses, but those that are completely new to the term may still not quite understand.
It will take time for some business owners to see the worth in offsite support over in-house staff and the myriad of functions a VA can serve. Viewing VAs as professionals and business owners, and not employees, can also be a stumbling stone.
Take a look at the video from the Today Show, and if you have questions or would like to learn more about how a virtual assistant can help you or your business, take a look at the Small Business Support Services that are offered by Edge VA, or Contact Me to discuss your business support needs.
Getting Started on Elance
July 6, 2009
How to Get Started
I am by no means an expert, but Elance has provided leads for ongoing clients since I started in February(once you start working with a Buyer on Elance, you must continue working within the Elance system for a period of 1 year) .
I am not charging my “normal” VA rate but I am close. I have recurring clients that invite me back periodically for their projects, and I have developed a high rating through positive feedback and job completions that attracts new invitations.
As I mentioned previously, the focus for me has been on portfolio development and relationship building to help get my business up and running. I honestly did not expect to make enough money to cover all my start-up costs. Luckily enough, I have made a profit that is high enough for me to continue with the service as a paying member.
Fill in your profile – Buyers who research their prospective Providers will look at your profile. They want to see that you are serious, and they want to learn what you have to offer. Check for typos and errors.
Take the Free Skill Tests – While many Providers have pointed out the flaws in the testing system, Buyers like to see the results. They add credibility and show that you are dedicated in that you have taken the time and effort to take the tests. I personally have taken 15.
Visit the Water Cooler – This is the forum that Elance has set up for providers to exchange ideas and information. It is the best place to learn the ins and outs of bidding and the project process. Be wary of the in-fighting and cliques though – I take what I want and leave the rest.
Spend Time On Each Proposal - Or in other words – just say no to templated proposals. The Buyers worth their salt will read your proposal thoroughly and will want to see that you have read their project and targeted your bid towards them. Spell check, re-read and repeat before submitting. Attach work samples if you have any, or further information about yourself or your business (like a Services/Rates Outline)
Follow Up - Send a message (PMB) if you haven’t heard from the provider a couple days after project close. Or, do it sooner if you think you have a good reason to contact the Buyer. You don’t want to harass them, but you want to show your assertiveness.
My profile is available for viewing at cmcoleman.elance.com. Feel free to take a look at it, but please don’t do the dirty copy/paste routine. You want to represent you – not me!
I love comments! What are your thoughts on Elance and Profile development – have I missed anything?
Elance – An Option for New VAs
July 1, 2009
Elance for Portfolio Development
I also knew that as a new business I would need to prove myself to potential clients through a developed portfolio, testimonials, and references. Trust is difficult to obtain, particularly in the online arena, so when first starting out and now as my business progresses and develops, I need to be able to prove my expertise and dependability.
Yet another reason: I needed a place to start gaining clients. In my local area, the term virtual assistant is as foreign as another language – many of my closest neighbors don’t even own computers. For me, developing word of mouth referrals and business contacts online was the best approach. After some research into the various freelance sites, I decided to sign up to Elance.com.
I am going to be honest: most projects simply pay too little and ask for too much. Out of the freelance sites that I reviewed, Elance stuck out for me because it enforces a $50 minimum for each job. While not perfect, it does cut down on Buyers seeking to have several hours of work done for $20.00. However, the quality projects do need to be picked out; you need to separate the grain from the chaffe. While some Providers (Elance’s term for freelancer) seem to be content with projects that net less than$5/hr., I was and am not one of them.
How To Get Started as a Provider
How does Elance Work?
For those seeking freelancers, the service is free. A Buyer (termed by Elance) simply signs up, and follows the directions to posting a job, including a title, description, category and budget range.
Once a job is posted, Providers in the selected category( ie; admin support) place bids using Connects (think tokens). Free memberships include 3 Connects a month, and paid memberships vary, with additional Connects purchasable as smaller units. For example, for $9.95/month, I can bid on projects in the admin support category and am allotted 20 Connects for the billing period of one month. If i run out of Connects, I can buy more at $5/10 Connects.
Not all projects cost the same amount of Connects to bid and generally, the higher the project budget, the higher Connect cost. A job in the $50-$500 range may only cost 2 Connects, whereas a job in the $1000-5000 range may cost 4 Connects.
As expected, the bid comprises of the Provider’s expected price for project completion, and then an area for the Provider to explain their bid. This is, in my opinion, the most important part of the bid process – this is where a Providers states their expertise, how they will get the job done and why they have bid the amount stated. This is all about Marketing. Confidence, strong writing and timing matter. Yes – timing plays a big part – the 75th bid might be the best fit, but I am certain that most Buyers do not have the time or interest to read that far down the list unless the previous 74 bids are ridiculously out of range or under-qualified.
On jobs that are awarded, Elance collects a hefty commission: 6.75% of the total project fee — 8.75% if PayPal is used for funds transfer (which is the only option for Canadian Providers).
Obviously, this is just a quick overview – I haven’t gotten into Groups, Stats or other features, but you can find the information at Elance’s website or through the Elance University. The point is – freelance sites can be an option for new VAs or freelancers just starting out; just make sure your expectations are realistic.
Have any questions? Post a comment and I’ll answer as best I can or direct you to the answer.
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