You know me – when something starts to annoy me I have to tackle it head on.  

And i’m hearing from many of you about your hiring woes and how you are struggling to find the right virtual team for you and your biz. I’ve been talking to business owners about this stuff for years now and it’s still a hot topic (and a headache for many of you!) 

I have some thoughts about what is going on here that i’ve crafted into a cool new report called: 

The Stop Settling Manifesto

Taking a stand on creating the best virtual support team for you and your business

Go ahead and grab your copy here:

Sign up now to receive this free PDF, along with our monthly newsletter First Name Primary Email We won’t share your info ever – my promise!

In this short (I promise!) report I cover a few key things that you need to know in order to create the best virtual support team for you and your business, including:

• the one thing that is hurting most business owners who are struggling with their team (and it’s not what you might think!)
• the hiring approach that I see many business owners doing (and which is almost guaranteed to fail)
• a formula for ensuring you create a successful team (just two simple things)
• how being an ostrich or a control freak can stiffle your team (and subsequently your business success!)
• the ONE question that you need to ask in order to know if you have the right team in place

Go ahead and grab your copy at the link above, and be sure to let me know what you think!

Would you like to learn how to “Write a Site” – for you or your clients – in just 30 days?

My friend and colleague, Marketing Strategist Karri Flatla has created the SEO Copywriting Course and it starts June 22nd.
 
I’ve been bugging Karri to offer a course like this forever, and I guess she finally gave in <wink>. If you’ve always wanted to help your clients with their web copy, you really can’t afford to miss this one. Web copywriting skills are in HIGH demand; yet very few online support professionals are offering copywriting to their clients.

Now you can add “Copy Doctor” to your portfolio! And add another revenue stream for yourself in offering this skillset.

The great thing is that you don’t have to be a “great writer” to write a website that SELLS. In this webinar-based course, Karri is going to teach you how to write search engine optimized web copy easily and quickly.
 
In just one month you could have that website copywriting project FINISHED.
 
Click here to register for Karri’s SEO Copywriting Course. The first class is June 22nd.

This one has been brewing for a while now, something that is near and dear to my heart.

Check out the video here on this page:
http://www.thrivehiringsystem.com/hire/

We will be blasting this out to the world later this week, would love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to comment here or pop me an email at tina [at] onlinebusinessmanager.com … this one is a biggie.

Here’s a snippet of the presentation I did for Andrea Lee’s Wealthy Thought Leader event this past March – my topic as the 5 W’s of Online Business Management.

We’ve had a few conversations lately in the Online Business Manager Mentorship re: what to do when a potential client asks for a proposal.

First and foremost, don’t panic!! I know alot of virtual support professionals who get a bit of a “deer in the headlights” moment when asked for a proposal… as it sounds like some big ole scary official businessy thing. It doesn’t have to be.

A proposal is simply a statement of how you can help the client and what that will look like.

After having a conversation with a potential client you come back with a proposal based on what was discussed (and yes, there needs to be a discussion before a proposal can be created so you are clear on their needs.) There are lots of proposal templates out there, I highly recommend checking out the templates that Alan Weiss offers. The template is important but what you really want to keep in mind is the intent of the proposal… a good proposal should do the following:

• Let the business owner feel that you *get* what they need – that you were listening to what they were saying and really understand the needs of them and the business. Especially powerful when you can “read between the lines” and tap into a deeper need that might not have been discussed directly.
• Have them feel confident that you can take things on – by outlining clear objectives, measures of success and methodologies so they can see that you are truly equipped and ready to help them out. Demonstrate what you are bringing to the table, what you want to accomplish and when so they can see that you are ready to dive in.

If you have a great conversation with a potential client and follow-up with a proposal that can do the above you are set to create a strong relationship.

It occured to me today on one of our Future of Virtual Assistance calls that we are actually pioneers as virtual assistants, online business managers and the like.

Having worked in the virtual support industry for over 10 years now I actually forget that what we do, how we work and what we offer is actually VERY cutting edge in the big picture of the world. As I always like to say, my parents still don’t get what I do even after having read my book (as my dad said at a party a few weeks back “I don’t know what Tina does but she makes a great living at it.”)

I graduated from college in 1994 – at that point the internet was in it’s infancy. I don’t think I got my first email address until circa 95, and it was all dial-up baby (remember that sound? brrrrrrrrwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiizzzzbbbbbbbbbpppppppp) If  future Tina had gone back to visit just graduated Tina and said “hey, you’ll be making your living 100% virtual from home, working with super cool entrepreneurs and training others to do the same” I probably would have laughed and said “yea, right… get back to the future there crazy woman.”

And yet I think that most of the people we know in the regular world (aka our non-virtual community) would say the same thing to our faces even here today. Most of my friends work regular jobs – teacher, nurse, corporate rock star – and we rarely if ever talk about work for the simple fact that they don’t understand what I do. Or perhaps i’ve never really tried to explain it properly to them? Hmmm… although I do know my best friend Tara doesn’t want to know – she’s a phys-ed teacher in middle school and neither of us gets what the other one does for a living, LOL!

My point here is this – for those moments when you are feeling frustrated with your business, with finding new clients, connecting with current clients, keeping up with all the technology and all of the ‘not so fun’ stuff that comes along with being a virtual support professional – remember that you are truly a pioneer. This industry – working virtually at all – is so brand new and so foreign to many people that we are blazing the trail here.

And blazing a trail can be hard work at times.

The most common question I get from online business managers and virtual assistants is around how and where to find clients. And as we talk about alot in the OBM Community it can be tough! Because what we do is so new most people don’t understand how we can help them. Say you are an online business manager or a virtual assistant and you might get a blank stare.

It is up to us to EDUCATE business owners on how we can support their business growth, because many of them really don’t understand how we can help. And it is the education piece that I think alot of us forget about and therefore end up feeling frustrated…  when it comes to finding new clients consider yourself an educator first and foremost. Educating someone is blazing the trail.

We are all doing what we do for very specific reasons – for freedom in time, freedom to make more money, freedom to do the things we love to do. In my corporate days I always worked in a support role of some kind, and although I loved the work I hated being “boxed in.”  This is why I love being in the virtual support industry as I get to still do the kind of work I love but on my terms. It’s up to me to become the professional I want to be, up to me to say yes to the opportunities that excite me (and no to those that don’t), up to me to enjoy being a solo-professional or look to build my own virtual support empire if I so choose. We get to make a choice in what we do, and I know that our friends in regular jobs generally don’t have this luxury.

This makes me wonder what our world will be like another 10 years from now. Will working virtually be more the norm? Will my parents finally understand what I do for a living? Will business owners understand when we say “I’m an Online Business Manager.”? That is very appealing of course, but in some ways I like being where we are right now blazing the trail. As they say here in cowboy land (good ole southern Alberta where I live) Giddy-up!

As per my rant of a few weeks back - you know i’m a huge fan of getting out and meeting people face to face. Not only is this an excellent way to find new clients (the best way in fact) it’s just plain fun. After being home with my girls for 4 years I just started “leaving the house” again last fall – attending a number of conferences as well as my mastermind sessions. And let me tell you, this alone has been the reason that my business has grown by leaps and bounds this year. I’ve been able to meet people i’ve already known for years online (and deepen the relationship) as well as meet new folks too – all of whom are my fellow entrepreneurs and *get* me and what i’m building (unlike my family who is still confused, LOL.)

My mentor David Neagle together with Suzanne Evans are hosting the More Life Tour* – an 8 city entrepreneurial extravaganza starting here in June. These are one-day jam packed events with a focus on creating abundance for yourself while making a difference in the world of those that you serve. Does it get any better than that? And i’ll be speaking at the Boulder, CO tour stop on July 31st – and would love love love to meet there!

>> Register for the More Life Tour here

This is for any business owner out there of course, but ESPECIALLY for you virtual support professionals – Online Business Managers, Virtual Assistants and such. I’m really want to encourage you to get your buns out to one or more of these events. I’ve said this many times and stand by my word – going to a live entrepreneurial event could fill your business in a day. There will be loads of people in the room who need your help and simply being there could open up many many new opportunities for you. Plus of course you will learn lots from the event itself to apply to your own business – a double whammy benefit.

People always ask me – where/how do I find new clients? Get out there folks, I mean it… meet people face to face. This is your answer and being only $57 for the day and with 8 cities to choose throughout the US & Canada there is simply no excuse. If I had done my hair today I would have recorded a video here of my shaking my finger at you… LOL!

*In the spirit of full disclosure this is an affiliate link which means I could earn a commission if you choose to attend (and I hope you will!)

I tell ya, nothing makes me happier than hearing how OBMs are out there making a difference for their clients AND loving what they do. Here are just a few cool wins from some of our members of the International Association of Online Business Managers  – join me in giving them a virtual toast!

“Hi Tina, I’m the new OBM for Stacey Hylen and Lou Bortone. I’ve also joined Leesa Barnes’ Virtual Event Team. Companies and entrepreneurs hire Leesa to create and coordinate virtual events for them and she’s growing by leaps and bounds. I’ve also been doing a lot of training in the area of Memberships and building Membership Communities. Having a blast!”
- Cindy Morus, CindyMorus.com @cindymorus

“I’m celebrating my first client who has hired me as her OBM from day one vs. working into that role. WOOT! WOOT! ”
- Raven Howard, VirtualRavenMarketing.com, @virtualraven

“I am celebrating a client’s business launch this week. Back in August I helped her design and launch a radio show including all the business communications and online presence like Facebook, Twitter, web site, etc. This week we expanded from a 1 day per week show to a 5 day per week radio network adding network hosts and subject matter experts. We still have “pieces in a process” like the new web site to support the network and such, but I am really excited to have been a part of such a fast-moving and fun project.”
- Donna Frindt, @donnafrindt

“My celebration is the successful launch of a client’s new program. Client thrilled.  Meeting tomorrow to discuss product funnel and what’s next.”
- Brenda Violette, VBSVirtualAssist.com @vbsvirtual

Check out this video for my answer to the most commonly asked question “where do I find clients?”… virtual or not, you need to do this.

Curious about Infusionsoft? I was too… as I’ve seen it popping up all over the place the past year or so. And so I decided to dive in and get to know a bit more about this tool and see what all the buzz is about.

Let’s just say I’m very impressed to say the least. I’ve recorded a video for you with my thoughts PLUS have a very special invite for you to join me next week.

>> Click here to watch the video and sign up for our no-cost call on May 11th re: “Infusionsoft: What Is It and Why Should I Care?”

PS – Everyone is welcome to join me for this call, whether you are an Online Business Manager or Virtual Assistant who wants to learn a new way to support your clients, OR if you are a business owner looking for a way to *finally* automate your marketing process.