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Virtual Assistant Tip: 5 Keys to Building Quality Business Relationships

February 7, 2012 By

I am in my third year of my Virtual Assistant Social Media business.  I am convinced more than ever of the power of positive relationships.

As a Virtual Assistant, I have the pleasure of relating and engaging with MANY various types of business owners each week:

  • Business Owners
  • PR / Marketing Staff
  • Website Developers
  • Trainers
  • Additional Contractors related with the Client’s Business
  • Beginner Virtual Assistants
  • More!

As the economy slowly changes, the one constant I see is the power of relationships.

Here are 5 Steps to Build Quality Business Relationships when engaging in the relationships with your business and your client’s business support needs.

1.  Less is More -  Listen more than you talk when engaging with fellow business relationships (for yourself and your client).  I listen to what my clients’ needs are, and when I speak with one of their vendors directly, I make sure that I listen to ensure that the vendor and my client are on the “same page”.

If someone ASKS my professional opinion, I give it, honestly.

2.  Engage Authentically - Be sure to engage positively with all members of a client’s team.  It is important that you are authentic when you engage with your client, their connections, vendors, etc.

  • If you genuinely like a post click “like” or “share”.
  • Stay business professional (not too much personal interaction)
  • Use common courtesy, say “please” and “thank you”.
  • Publicly say THANK YOU – on various social media sites (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, www.Inside919.com, etc.)

3.  Have Your Clients Back – Plan Ahead - Without a question, the days when I smile from ear to ear is when a client out of the blue says “thanks for having my back”.  As a Virtual Assistant Social Media Manager, my job is to ensure consistency of information so that the client has the freedom to engage and relate as they do best.

4.  Excellence - It is imperative that you offer excellent service to your clients (and their team members).  Remember, every person  you touch is a potential referral source!  I get a lot of business from third party vendors I may have engaged with one time for a particular client.  I do an outstanding job and go the extra mile to make sure the client’s reputation is in tact and the project is done well.

5. Become a Connector - If you are not a perfect fit for someone, be honest.  If you can’t help someone, try to offer a solution that will help them.  It does take a bit of time to sometimes find an alternative fit for a potential client, but I want to make sure that client is taken care of.  If they took the time to reach out and call me (often after researching for a while) I want to do what I can to help them fulfill that need.

How About You? Is there another tip that you utilize in building quality relationship with business owners that you touch in your Virtual Assistant business?

Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

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Getting STARTED on Inside919? Step 3: ENGAGE!

January 5, 2012 By

The third, and possibly, the most important topic is: ENGAGE!

Engage Online

Take 15 Minutes a Day , and ENGAGE! Find someone you want to learn more about:

- Read their blog
- Read their bio
- Which groups do they belong to?
- Who do they connect with?

If you have something of value to add, do it! Begin a conversation or respond to conversations you read.

Remember smart people connect with smart people!

The powerful thing about Inside919 is that you can connect online and meet offline. (Remember, we are all local).

Engage Offline

One of the best ways, I have found to connect with Insiders is to meet them at the Insider events like the: LOCAL COFFEE BREAK and the Third Thursday Event.

It is powerful when you engage with someone online and meet offline, in person. There is an instant connection! Not only that, many of us like to “refer” business to people we “know” and like.

So take the time to ENGAGE here in the Inside919 community! It is well worth your time and effort!
Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant’s Posts – 919 Business Networking – Local Business Owners & Professionals

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Getting STARTED on Inside919? Step 2: Groups

January 5, 2012 By

Connecting with some of the GROUPS has been a valuable way for me to get to know other Insiders who share the same values, ideas, challenges and joys I do.

To find the Groups, go to the Top Toolbar and click on GROUPS. You will find a HUGE list pull up (over 150 groups!). You can search through the groups or you can type a keyword of something that interests you!

Also, if you find an Insider whom you respect, see what groups they belong to? Smart people attract smart people!

When You Join a Group, Plan to do Two Things

1) Connect – Connect with other Insiders and get to know THEM! (Don’t try to sell anything, just be yourself!)

2) Contribute – Offer something of value to the group. You obviously have an interest, so add your thoughts and enjoy!

One of the greatest attributes about the Inside919, is we are a very welcoming group! I love connecting with folks online in conversation and meeting them in person! It is great!

Let me know which groups you choose and which ones you enjoy!

Picture: Compliments of Michelle Gower, TriangleB2B Magazine and New Kid on the Block Inside919 Group
Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant’s Posts – 919 Business Networking – Local Business Owners & Professionals

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Getting STARTED on Inside919? Step 1: Videos

January 5, 2012 By

Hey Everyone

If you know me for 2 seconds, you know how much I LOVE Inside919! It has absolutely revolutionized the way I do business, and has been a valuable tool in creating valuable local business and personal relationships! And yes, I have made money with Inside919 as one of my marketing tools!

I am often asked: How do I get started on Inside919?
If you can give yourself 15 minutes a day to learning and navigating this site, you will learn in not time how POWERFUL and VALUABLE this FREE site will be to your marketing plan!

Pat Howlett has done a wonderful job of creating videos on many topics:

* Insiders Page
* Video Tours
* Events
* Posting a Video
* Your Profile

Here is a link to the videos! http://inside919.ning.com/video/video/search?q=insider+help

You can also find these videos anytime on the Main Screen, top left corner, under READ BEFORE JOINING Box. #2 – Video Tours.

Inside919 will take some time to get used to, but the videos above will be a definite help! This is how I got started and THANKFUL every day that I took the time to focus on Inside919!

Here’s to a Prosperous 2010! Let me know of any questions, anytime!

Angel
Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant’s Posts – 919 Business Networking – Local Business Owners & Professionals

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Friends Don’t Let Friends…SPAM!

January 5, 2012 By

Inside919 is over 2,500 local business owners, now! *Whoot!* *Whoot!* With this large amount of traffic, comes a large amount of responsibility!





I am on Inside919 frequently and enjoy reading posts, learning about new Insiders, connecting with people, offering suggestions, getting valuable feedback for myself personally, and for my business. etc.



What I am NOT enjoying is the amount of unsolicited emails I am getting in my Inside919 Inbox.



Here is my *Angel Opinion*…I LOVE to engage on Inside919. If you want to market to me, may I suggest the following:



1) Please offer information of value – It will stand out from the mix



2) Please be YOURSELF! I am at times a quirky person, and someone’s humor and/or personality really set you apart!



3) Honor those around your sphere of influence by offering comments, suggestions and valuable input to those around you. People will notice! But most importantly, YOU will notice that you draw people to yourself.



If you want to get to KNOW me and build a better referral opportunity….



4) Let’s connect on Inside919 (online) and then perhaps at a Tuesday AM Coffee Shop) (offline)..I now know WHO you are, what you do and how to relate with you!



A fabulous example of this is Bill Laundon. I met Bill at one of the very early Tuesday AM Coffee Break, at Electric Beanz in Garner, NC. I liked Bill because


1) He didn’t try to sell me insurance



2) He was a REAL person – we talked about kids, life, travel, living in the south



3) He had a real interest in my business.



4) Bill NEVER asked me for a referral, he never asked me to introduce him to anyone. He was just “Bill”…



A funny thing happened…..



Looong story short, a Homeowners Association I work with needed an insurance quote. Who do you think was one of the first people I asked about the quote?..It was Bill.



I knew it would be handled professionally and graciously…just like Bill was.



Moral of the Story..



Friends don’t let Friends SPAM. To this day I consider Bill a friend. He is a smart man with a heart for helping people (and some HYSTERICAL stories about his family).



We all need more Bill’s in our life!



(PS – Bill, don’t be embarrassed, I know I didn’t tell you about this post!) LOL



A~

PS: Here are the original DO NOT SPAM suggestions from the Main Page of Inside919

Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant’s Posts – 919 Business Networking – Local Business Owners & Professionals

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Quality Vs. Quantity?

January 5, 2012 By

One of the things I am most proud of with AssistantAngel, Virtual Assistants is the VALUE and SERVICE we provide our clients.

They KNOW they are getting top notch marketing and social media support at affordable rates. We frequently hear our clients tell us how happy they are with our services. This amazing relationship with our clients has resulted in a large percentage of referrals generated from current clients.

As our Virtual Assistant business grows, we are left with an amazing opportunity….

Quality of Service vs. Quantity of Clients….

My heart is to focus on Quality and limit Quantity….as the strength of our Virtual Assistant Team grows…we can add more and more clients, and maintain the Quality our clients know and trust.

What are your thoughts? Which is more important – Quantity or Quality? Is it Industry specific?

I appreciate your insight and perspective!

Thanks!

Angel
Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant’s Posts – 919 Business Networking – Local Business Owners & Professionals

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Research BEFORE Giving a Referral

January 5, 2012 By

I recently had an interesting experience that taught me a HUGE business life lesson when it came to GIVING a quality referral.




I was contacted by a former business associate, who I hadn’t spoken to in a few years. He called and said he wanted to “hire me” for his new business. As I listened to his immediate needs, I realized that he needed a plan, before I could implement that marketing plan for him (as a Virtual Assistant). As a result, I referred him to a local business owner I KNOW and TRUST.


I KNEW this business associate (requesting the work) three years ago. He was a smart cookie, who would pay WHATEVER it took to get a job done thoroughly and efficiently. So I ASSUMED (I know, don’t go there) that money wasn’t a huge issue for him.


Well now….


So he has a one on one with the trusted business associate I recommended and after an hour and a half of her time he says, “Well, I can’t pay you now, this is a new business, I would like you to volunteer your time and eventually you will get paid when the business becomes successful”…..


When I finally heard about this I was MORTIFIED! First of all, because he wasted this trusted associates TIME that she could have been with her other clients. Secondly, it was now MY Reputation that this trusted advisor was relying on. Thirdly, the business owner “hiring” never once said anything about doing work for free. In fact, his original conversation was that he wanted to “hire” me.


What I FAILED to do was answer all of the 4 questions below:


  1. Know the expectations of the Referral Lead
  2. Always find out EXACTLY what type of work the client is looking for.
  3. Find out the Time Line for the potential client’s needs.
  4. Determine dollar boundaries (if possible) for the potential client.


So, even though my heart was to connect two business professionals, I didn’t do enough research to make sure it was a valuable solution for both! So take a lesson from me….Research your Referrals and everyone will be better off in the long run (including YOUR reputation!)

Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant’s Posts – 919 Business Networking – Local Business Owners & Professionals

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“Have Your People Call My People…WAIT! I am My People!”

January 5, 2012 By

Have you noticed less and less people communicate on the phone?




I understand many of us rarely use our landlines (*gasp*) and the only phone we have is a cell phone.

(For the record, I still maintain a land line AND (*cover your ears*) have a fax machine in my home office) :o )



For me personally, it is the nature of my business to connect with my clients and business connections online. My work has me consistently online, so it is the place where I am most accessible.



That being said, I believe there is a time to “relate face to face” and a time to relate “online”.

I do both – and honestly, both have been very successful.



Do you prefer to communicate on the phone? Is it different for business and personal? Is it industry specific?



I appreciate your feedback….
Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant’s Posts – 919 Business Networking – Local Business Owners & Professionals

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You Have Not…Because You Ask Not

January 5, 2012 By

I recently made a HUGE blunder while purchasing an online advertisement.



In my zeal to support my client, I “forgot” to put an end date on a targeted ad campaign I was running on a national social media site. (The ad actually ran 2 week more than I intended, with daily fees piling up). The company did bill bi-monthly, so after the event, I didn’t see any more charges, so I thought the ad campaign was finished.

My life moves quickly and one file at a time…once the clients event was over, I was onto my next task and fire. I “happen” to check something in my business account and was suprised to see it was a NEGATIVE balance. I expected to see much more in the account than negative numbers!



Please Note: As far as finances go, I do NOT keep negative balance in any account and pay cash (or use my debit card) for purchases. We want to be “Debt Freeeeee!” (All Dave Ramsey fans are smiling right now!) :o )



So after I took a few deep breaths, checked my heart rate and ate a Hershey Bar….I did some research and determined it WAS indeed my error. I was devastated. I had gone the extra mile…and I made an error.



A dear friend encouraged me to talk to the company and the bank. I did both, and it was about a week of back and forth. I was honest, I told them what I did, and I was willing to pay for the fees I incurred to the date of the event, and I asked for mercy for the rest.



After 10 days of negotiations the company DID refund my money and unlock my account on their site. I was responsible for the fees I incurred to the date of the event! Wow!… I was blown away. I have to be honest, I cried…more so out of relief…but also because if I had not ASKED for mercy, none would have been shown in this situation.



So then I ask myself…do I show MERCY to other business owners? This situation was a BUSINESS to BUSINESS relationship. This wasn’t one of my girlfriends who I know very well.



So be encouraged. Yes, we all make mistakes… (even business to business relationships). I am more determined than ever to show mercy and good judgment in those business relationships as well! I understand very well as I have been on the other side of that “transaction”.

Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant’s Posts – 919 Business Networking – Local Business Owners & Professionals

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Putting the “SOCIAL” back in Social Media

January 5, 2012 By

Times are definitely changing….we can connect faster online than ever before: Inside919, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Poken, Blackberry (aka “crackberry”), Iphone, etc.



What isn’t changing is the need to continue to be SOCIAL in Social Media.



I am blessed to work with so many different types of business owners. I understand, first hand, the importance of putting your information and resources out on the web as a vital tool of implementing most marketing strategies.



However, I am also seeing an interesting trend with my clients. Those who “embrace” the SOCIAL part of Social Media have a triple benefit.



1) Powerful Name Recognition



• When they go places people will stop them and say, “I know you….or I see you everywhere!”



2) Ability to “close the gap” of their online “personality” to their in person “personality”.



• Are they as cool in person are they are online? Do the 2 “personas” represent eachother?



3) See the PASSION in their eyes for what they LOVE to do!



• That passion isn’t always understood online.



• This in my opinion, is the game changer with “Social” Media. For me personally I want someone who ABSOLUTELY loves taking care of animals, to be my pet sitter. Not someone who does it only to get a paycheck. In this economy folks are scared with their money (understandably so). They want to spend their money with people they TRUST and RESPECT.


This is particularly true for those clients who have a target locally. But interestingly enough, I have seen, when those clients build those solid LOCAL connections the NATIONAL connections begin to follow.

Video is one way to bring your offline personality to your online presence.

Another opportunity is to MAKE the time to engage in the social networking opportunities available to you (Monthly with all of Inside919: Tuesday Coffee Break and Third Thursdays).


I know first hand, the pulls on our calendars: family, kids, sports, work, business, meetings, volunteer efforts, church, etc = LIFE. I actually block out 2 networking opportunities each week and work my life around them. That is my GOAL…life happens, and I do not always get there, but at least it is on my radar.



Take the time to ENGAGE and enjoy the networking opportunities available. I believe in the long you will be glad you did…..and so will your new customers!




Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant’s Posts – 919 Business Networking – Local Business Owners & Professionals

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