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There’s an art behind finding and landing speaking gigs for your clients.

It’s an art that I simply did not have a few years ago when I reluctantly agreed to help my clients with finding and landing speaking opportunities. I knew that it was a huge piece to the business growth but I really had no business representing my clients when I lacked the skills to do this well.

That’s why I’m so excited about the call I’m hosting Monday, February 6th with Susan Levin and Jean-Noel Bassior of www.SpeakerServices.com. These ladies have been in the business for 20 years and I know they’re going to provide incredible information about what every VA (and business owner/entrepreneur, if they’re doing this themselves!) needs to know when it comes to successfully finding and landing speaking gigs.

All the details are at >>> http://www.virtuallysuccessful.com/virtual-assistants-find-and-land-speaking-opportunities/

Check out the video below … you’ll hear a little more about my traumatizing experience!

Business owners of all kinds, not just the Virtual Assistant industry, have troubles with selecting a target market.

But this question made me smile ... I've had a few people ask me "Cindy, can you just tell me who to select as my target market?  Can you pick for me?"

Check out my response and a tip in this video ...

I'm super excited to host a FREE call where I interview Susan Levin and Jean-Noel Bassior from SpeakerServices.com on "7 Things Virtual Assistants Must Know to Find & Land Speaking Opportunities For Their Clients."

We all know how speaking contributes to a business. However business owners and entrepreneurs simply don't have the time or expertise to find and land speaking gigs on their own. They need the help of a skilled and confident Virtual Assistant to manage much of this on their behalf.

And it's easier than we may all think. Although the thought of picking up the phone and speaking with an event planner or the media paralyzes us, Susan and Jean-Noel are going to share how any Virtual Assistant can do this (yes, even you!).

The call is on Monday, February 6th at 10am Pacific. Check out the details >>> http://www.virtuallysuccessful.com/virtual-assistants-find-and-land-speaking-opportunities/

Marketing is all about relationship building. Imagine meeting a new business contact and they speak to you in a way that strongly demonstrates that they understand you. Would you feel drawn and more connected to them?

When it comes to connecting with business owners, it's so important that you can confidently speak to them in a way that shows you understand them.

Imagine this ... a business owner meets two Virtual Assistants.

One says "I have a Virtual Assistant business and provide administrative support to business owners."

The other Virtual Assistant responds VERY differently ... using specific terms, referring to specific challenges and proving that they understand the business owner at a much higher level.

Which VA do you think the business owner would be more attracted to?

Check out the video below to see how easy it really is for you to be the VA business owners will be more interested in speaking with ... and potentially hiring.

If you're struggling with how to introduce yourself to potential clients, you need to join me for the 'How Do I Find Clients' Clinic on THURSDAY, January 19th. Check out the details at www.VirtualAssistantClinic.com.

Make your first impression count ... speak in a way that allows you to easily build a strong relationship.

How will you tweak your introduction and overall conversation with business owners so they feel more connected to you? Please share your comments and thoughts below.

A rather strong title to this blog post and video ... but it's the truth.

Business owners have shared with me over and over (and yes, over) again that they want and need a Virtual Assistant who can 'think ahead of them, get things done and help them make more money.'

A Virtual Assistant who is stuck with employee mindset can not possibly and will not support a business owner in these ways.

Check out the video and share your thoughts below. Do you have employee mindset? What will you do to change and support the growth of your VA business?

If I were to start my Virtual Assistant business all over again, there's one BIG thing I would do differently.

I share the mistake, why it was so important and how my business changed when I corrected this mistake.

Selecting a target market and how to find out EVERYTHING you need to know about a target market will be covered in great detail in the upcoming 'How Do I Find Clients' Clinic on Thursday, January 19th.

Check out the details >> www.VirtualAssistantClinic.com.

Avoid the mistake that's costing you all kinds of great clients!

Can you relate? Please share your thoughts, feedback and comments below.

A friend of mine recently posted this and I couldn't help but want to share it with you. I'm not sure where it originally came from so I can't apply the appropriate credit ... but I hope it inspires you even just a little bit as we get 2012 underway.

20 Tips for a Positive New Year

1. Take a 10-30 minute “Thank you” walk every day. While you walk practice gratitude. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. Buy a TIVO, tape your late night shows and get more sleep—it’s the ultimate energizer.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement: My purpose is to___________ today.

5. Live with the 3 E's. Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy.

6. Read more books than you did in 2011.

7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, qigong and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Do the “one thing” you have always wanted to do.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are manufactured in plants.

11. Mentor someone and be mentored by someone.

12. Engage in daily random acts of kindness.

13. Clear your clutter from your house, car, and desk and let new and flowing positive energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:
I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished____________.

19. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

20. Enjoy the ride. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy it.

**Which tip most connects with you? I'd love hear your comments and thoughts - please post them below.**

How would you like me to show you not only how to find clients ... but how to find your IDEAL clients.  You know,  the clients you really want to work with, who respect you, offer you opportunities, and who consider you an essential part of their business?

As the author of 'Virtually Successful:  8 Simple Ways For Virtual Assistants To Find (and Keep) Clients', it hits a soft spot for me  when I hear any VA – brand new or seasoned – ask the question “How Do I Find Clients?”.   So much so that I thought it was time to  address this question, at the very beginning of this new year, so that you can beat this challenge right away!

In the *BRAND NEW* 'How Do I Find Clients' Clinic, on Thursday, January 19th from 11am to 2pm Pacific (2-5pm Eastern), I'm going to show you, from scratch, everything you need to know and do to find, attract and connect with great business owners who desperately need your help (and who want to hire you!).

You'll walk away with solid confidence, a solid step-by-step process that will make it super easy for you to find clients  and assurance that you're saying exactly what business owners want to hear (so they'll hire you) when you meet them.  That's just a small taste of what you'll get during this 3 hour clinic.

This is the very first time I've offered a 'clinic style' program and it's sure to be fabulous.

**NOTE** The first 20 people who register before Thursday, January 12th will also receive over $250 worth of
bonuses!!

All the details are available for you at
http://hotskillsvatraining.com/how-do-i-find-clients-clinic-for-virtual-assistants/ -- check it out!

Business owners desperately need the help of a Virtual Assistant - there's no doubt about that.

So why is it that business owners sometimes struggle with the decision of hiring a  VA? Why are they not inviting us to join their business the minute they meet us?

I'll tell you why.  Sometimes this lies at the 'fault' of the business owner.   But many times, the fault is of the Virtual Assistant.

You see, the onus really is on you to do your research, ask the right questions, provide the exact information that business owners need to hear.
Business owners don't care about the technical side of things, or how many years experience you have --- they are listening for key words that connect to them.   Words that they can relate to, and words that tell them how you can help them eliminate the struggles they experience, as well as accomplish the revenue and business goals they set.

Here they are ... 3 of the top reasons business owners are not hiring you:

#1.  Your introduction is generic and you haven't proven that you really 'get' them.

Business owners want to know 'what's in it for me'.  So while you may have tremendous skills, if you haven't touched on specific points  that they're struggling with and need trouble with, you won't capture their attention.

This challenge typically happens to a VA who has not selected a target market, or who hasn't done enough research on her target  market.  When you can demonstrate that you understand their business, what they're trying to accomplish and the things that are causing the most grief PLUS how you can help them fix them ... they'll want to learn more about  you.

#2. You haven't established a relationship.

Do you personally do business with everyone as soon as you meet them?

Probably not. The same goes for the business owners you're connecting with online and offline.  One of the areas that we, as a  community, are horrible at, is follow up.

We stress about follow up.  We don't like it, we feel like a pain in the butt, we avoid it as much as possible.  You know deep down,  that in order to effectively build relationships with people you meet online and offline, you need follow up with them, build a relationship and gain their trust. As they get to know you more and see the solutions and expertise you offer, they will be more inclined to hire, or refer you.

#3.  They don't know what they don't know.

If you've known me for even a little bit, you've heard me say this line many, many times.

Business owners often know they need help. And, they often know (or are told) that a Virtual Assistant is the best person to help  them.  BUT ... they don't know how to get started, where to find a VA, or even what a VA can really do for them.

In order for a VA to be able to help a business owner in this position, they must ask the right questions, to get key details from the business owner, and then tell them exactly how they can help them.

This is a key piece that could literally turn a non-committed business owner into a solid client ... and a VA into a very successful VA!

So there you have it ... 3 reasons business owners don't hire VAs.

Based on the content above, what will you do differently in your hunt for new, ideal clients?

Is your website working for you, or is it an outdated, not-so-great representation of the value and expertise you bring?

It's interesting to me that we put in time and energy (albeit sometimes scattered) into networking, social media and promoting
ourselves in different ways ... but then the one tool that most represents who we are, who we want to work with, what we offer and more, is a weak depiction.

In this month's Get Clients Club session, I'm going to share 2 Mistakes Many VAs Are Making On Their Websites That Are Turning Away New Clients.  It's not about the overall look of  your website (although this is important), it's about two very specific and strategic things  that if done right, will make a huge difference in your business - i.e. attracting,  connecting and building relationships with potential clients.

Join me in the Get Clients Club -- www.GetClientsClub.com.  We meet monthly (via live video) on a very  specific topic related to helping you find more and better clients, and building a financial rewarding  business.

The January call is scheduled for Wednesday, January 11th at 1pm Pacific / 4pm Eastern.  Head on over to www.GetClientsClub.com to hold join me.