How do you stand out when you're networking? Are you just another face in the crowd or is there something you say, do or exhibit that demonstrates your uniqueness?
My friend Ragen and her business partner Willi really stick out in a crowd; attending networking events in professional attire and big pink fluffy slippers! You see they represent a team of Virtual Assistants who are very professional and qualified, but work from home. (I'm not sure if the pink slippers are part of their Virtual Assistant's uniform or not, you'll have to ask Ragen).
Their appearance at networking events is just the beginning of their differentiation. What really sets them apart from many other networkers you'll meet is their unique business model. Just take a look at these capabilities and success stories:
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Ragen and Willi from Cloud Nine Virtual Office Staffing aren't the only professionals in their pajamas. Their Virtual Assistant Team is full of exceptionally qualified professionals doing every administrative, telemarketing and bookkeeping task you can imagine, all from their homes.
The Cloud Nine Model offers an incredible group of benefits:
- Our VAs are exceptionally qualified, and have all passed our seriously stringent assessment process (less than 1 in 200 pass)
- No need to waste money on extra space or equipment
- Use exactly as much help as you need - there is no minimum or maximum number of hours
- No payroll or HR headaches
- We are a team so, even though you are assigned a specific VA for your account, back-up is always available in case of emergency
- We make it easy, even if you're technologically challenged
Success Stories
We have a client who is a small business owner. He knew that he was spending too much time being a secretary. He had tried hiring people for 20 hours a week at $8.00 per hour, but was frustrated with the quality of people he was getting. We matched him with a VA from our team who is a former Executive Assistant to the CEO of a major corporation. We reversed the equation, cutting him down to 8 hours per week at $20.00 per hour. Less than four months later he told us that he couldn't believe the difference that skill made. She was doing more in 8 hours from home than his other attempts had done in 20 hours in the office. He said that he had doubled his income because of the work that we were doing for him. Now he uses her 20 hours a week and estimates that she pays for herself more than 5 times over every week.
We have a client who was five years behind on her taxes. She hired a VA to get her receipts organized and her bookkeeping up to date. She called to tell me that not only is she (not to mention her CPA and the IRS) thrilled that her taxes and bookkeeping are finally up to date, but her VA created a simple system for her so that she could stay up to date in the future. She said that it felt like a 5,000lb weight was lifted off of her shoulders and that she is not actually spending less time staying caught up than she was spending when her system wasn't working. She is now using one of our VAs once a month to do her bookkeeping data entry. She said the she is happy to pay us for 4 hours of work rather than spend the 8 hours it takes her to do it herself.
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What can you do to set yourself apart both in the way you are seen and how your business is perceived? Those who are persistent and creative in seeking these answers will reap the rewards.
Happy Networking!
Scott Ingram
