Bloggin' for VANA

Have you heard the news? Tawnya Sutherland, Founder of VANA, has decided to start a great new contest!

Why is she doing this contest?

We wish to spread the word about our network for Virtual Assistants and raise awareness for Virtual Assistants in the public realm. The more news we can get out about VAs, the more we will become a business/household name and the more our services will be in demand.

“I’ve read a ton of Virtual Assistant blogs and I love it when I hear that the Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA) is held high amongst its members and posted about often.” Tawnya Sutherland

We were wondering how we would thank people for their loyalty and friendship with us and now we’ve finally thought of a way.

To enter, just fill out the form below telling us the link where you either:

• Blogged about VANA
• Posted an article with VANA in the by-line
• Submitted a Press Release mentioning VANA online

We'll choose winners on the 25th of each month. The lucky winners will then be notified how to receive their month's worth of Bronze Advertising at VANA.

Just go to the Contest Page and fill out the form telling Tawnya where you blogged about VANA. How simple is that?

Do you get butterflies when you go to networking events?

You're driving down the road. You've been talking to yourself all the way. You've been telling yourself you can do this. You keep running your "elevator speech" through your head. You keep saying "I can talk to these people. I can explain my business if they ask me what I do. I can walk up to people and introduce myself."

Then, you get to your destination. You're pumped and ready to go! You walk in the room and there's 50 other people there. You either freeze and wait to see if someone comes up to you, look around to see if you know someone so you're a little more comfortable, or you give up and leave. Why?

Don't you chit-chat with people when you're waiting in line at the grocery store? Do you "pipe in" a conversation at a store if you know you have the answer to what someone is asking? Why, then, can't we talk to 50 other people about our business? Is it because it's 50 people we don't know or because we're just not sure what we should say?

Put a smile on your face and feel confident. You are good at what you do and your business is worthwhile. Be excited about that! Don't be afraid. If you show your afraid or have a problem explaining what your Virtual Assistant business is about, it will show. Clients aren't going to come knocking on your door or calling you if you show you're afraid and can't explain your business to them. They want to give their business to people that are confident so feel confident.

When they ask you about your business, explain to them what you can do....PowerPoint presentations, spreadsheets, Websites, SEO, newsletters, article submissions, press release submissions, article and/or press release writing, logo's, cold-calling, etc. Whatever it is, tell them. Hold your head up high when you tell them too. Don't mumble.

Just remember that it's up to you. If you think positive and show them you can assist their business, they will call. They will beat down your door to be your next client. They will, in turn, recommend you to others. If you fumble with your words or freeze at the door, how are they going to know you and your business? How are you going to gain those clients?

It's your decision. It's your destiny. It's your choice as to which fork in the road you're going to take.