Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

More for Greg -

Hey, I checked out your website and it is great! You have a lot of the items I mentioned in place already and are obviously farther ahead of the game than you think you are!

Katie

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Kate LaFrance | HELP Virtual Mktg+Admin www.helpvirtual.com
Visit my blog: Your Marketing Mindset

For Pam - I checked out you website and you have almost all that you need in place - is your issue having someone to respond to your clients? I could do that. You could probably benefit from some Press too. Do you sell on Ebay? Home Shopping Network?  I can`t work for *free* but I would work for food!  Let me know off line if you are interested.

Thanks!

Katie

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Kate LaFrance | HELP Virtual Mktg+Admin www.helpvirtual.com
Visit my blog: Your Marketing Mindset

Hi, it`s me, the newbie on this forum, again!  : )

I believe I now understand the confusion.  It wasn`t over what Kate `is`, but what can Kate `do` for businesses as their VA and possibly what her 30-second elevator speech would be.

It looks like Kate answered some of those questions in her last few posts.  Good job.

If I were posting to ask for business on this website, I would likely say the following, (keep in mind that I work with a different target market than food and wine), "I specialize in helping authors, coaches and speakers who struggle to keep up with e-commerce and new technologies.  We take the struggle off our client`s shoulders, relieving them of this stress.  We implement new systems and technologies while helping them grow their bottom line."

I am sure Kate will work on her 30-second elevator speech, commercial, audio logo, or whichever phrase you prefer.  It`s great to see more feedback on this forum.  We`re all here to help each other grow...I love it!

I am wondering if those of you on this foodies group have ideas on where one might find clients in the food and wine industry and also who would be open to the idea of a VA.  You would know some publications, online groups, etc., wouldn`t you?  I think that`s where Kate might need some help.  There are thousands of websites when performing a Google search, but that`s like finding a needle in a haystack.

I work with authors, coaches, and speakers, so I know where my ideal client hangs out; it`s easy for me to find new clients.  I can only think of wineries, caterers, etc. for wine and food.  Are there wine clubs, wine blogs, etc. that you know of where one might need help implementing their small-ish marketing budget?

I`ll do some searching, too, as I am near both Napa and Sonoma Valleys...the largest wine countries in the US and possibly the world.  Fancy that I rarely drink wine, but when I do, my neighbor and I can sure polish off a great muscat wine! 

Well, I am signing off for now...

With Gratitude,
Michelle Ulrich, Chief Villager & President
The Virtual Nation (tm)
PO Box 3692, Citrus Heights, CA 95611
(916) 536-9799 Office
michelle@thevirtualnation.com
www.thevirtualnation.com
www.michelleulrich.com

Michelle - that was some good advice for Katie!

Michelle, I think you`re seeing pretty much the same thing as others have seen.

Kate, it sounds to me as if you would develop a better marketing position for yourself if you were to think of yourself as being in marketing. Perhaps a "marketing assistant," if you don`t want to bill yourself as an advertising executive.

In other words, make the VA part of your background an "added value," and don`t highlight it so much. Otherwise, people will tend to look for you as an office assitant and manager.

What you`re actually doing is applying your skills in problem solving, bringing the solutions to the small business owner whose business is focused on food and wine. Then "it just happens" that you have skills in writing, blogging, and other day-to-day processes.

To use corporate jargon, you`re skilled at both working "in" the business (the VA part), and "on" the business (the problem solutions part). Not many small business owners understand the distinction, and that`s where you`re offering to help.

Craig - You have defined the undefinable! There`s some real wisdom in your words.

Thanks!

Katie 

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Kate LaFrance | HELP Virtual Mktg+Admin www.helpvirtual.com
Visit my blog: Your Marketing Mindset

:-) Well, hopefully it`ll make you some money!

Katie:

Hello. Rick & Julie Lombardi here from the Vin Bin - Wine, Cheese, Bread & Brew in Metrowest Boston. www.thevinbin.com

I think my weekly newsletters and updates really are effective for keeping my 3,000 email subscribers very happy.

I use Constant Contact to let them know about ongoing ideas and specials.

In the words of Frank, "Carpe Vinum"

Rick and Julie Lombardi

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The Vin Bin - Wine, Cheese, Bread & Brew - www.thevinbin.com

HI - 

Thanks for the feedback. I just discovered winemarketer.com this AM and have been busy posting and linking. Do you face any challenges as an individual business owner in keeping up with your newsletter and the send out? I know it is an issue most startups face.

Thanks!

Katie

 

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Kate LaFrance | HELP Virtual Mktg+Admin www.helpvirtual.com
Visit my blog: Your Marketing Mindset

Katie:

Yes, it is a lot to expect. My background is in journalism and newspaper reporting & communications - so it is a little easier, but I have hired a local marketing pro to help, so I can run the store.

Thanks for the tip about winemarketer.com..

Thanks
Rick Lombardi

The Vin Bin

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The Vin Bin - Wine, Cheese, Bread & Brew - www.thevinbin.com