Janet Barclay: I’ve known Sharon Williams online since the 1^st Online International Virtual Assistants Convention (OIVAC) in 2006, and I had the pleasure of meeting her in person at the Forum on Virtual Assistance in Niagara Falls, Ontario last June. When I learned that she was planning her VA Blog Hopping and Podcast Tour again this year, I was thrilled to invite her to come and meet the other GHVA Group members and our guests, and to answer a few questions about the virtual assisting industry and the upcoming Convention..

Welcome, Sharon!

SW: I always look forward to chatting with Canadian VAs. Before we begin, I’m curious; how did you select your group name? Does it represent the community or is it named after a particular significant event?

JB: Sharon, I don’t think anyone has ever asked me that before, maybe because the phrase is very familiar to the people in our region. The “Golden Horseshoe” is a popular name for the area surrounding Lake Ontario, from Niagara Falls to Oshawa, which forms the shape of a horseshoe.

SW: Well, as you respond to my questions, I’ve read yours and my responses are below.

JB: There seem to be more and more educational options for VAs all the time – live conferences, webinars, self-study programs, and so on. What can a virtual assistant learn at OIVAC that they might not learn elsewhere?

SW: OIVAC is the only online multi-day annual event educating emerging and seasoned VAs and promoting the VA industry. It is a “learning experience” in the purest sense, because if offers tangible and intangible benefits, and sessions are taught by expert niche-focused VAs, as well as non-industry business professionals.

For three-days, VAs access a wide array of highly specialized topics including managing and designing WordPress sites, planning and hosting virtual events for clients, publicity, innovative marketing practices and more. There is also opportunity for new virtual assistants to learn the basics and start their businesses off on the right foot, ensuring they don’t make some of the same mistakes other, seasoned VAs may have made!

In addition to business and technology training, VAs participate in workshops, peer-to-peer networking, opportunities to meet virtual seat buddies, and develop joint venture partnering relationships, to name a few.

All in all, attending OIVAC is not just about “learning” but provides unique opportunities to network, create relationships and much more. It’s a brick and mortar conference experience, virtually; open to all virtual professionals, regardless of locale.

JB: Does OIVAC offer any free activities for people who can’t afford to register for the seminars?

SW: Actually, OIVAC offers several free activities and I will outline them shortly. First, I’d like to mention that no matter the state of your business, you should invest in it by participating in educational training. OIVAC offers numerous options (minimum fee $79.00), and your investment is a legitimate business deduction.

Now on to the free activities:

• International Virtual Assistants Day Celebration – Friday, May 21, 2010, 5:15 – 7 p.m. The annual celebration of the VA industry and our contribution to small businesses. In addition, during the ceremony, we announce Thomas Leonard Virtual Assistant of Distinction and Janet Jordan Achievement Award winners. We also enjoy a motivational presentation from our keynote speaker, network and participate in prize drawings.
• 3 Networking Sessions – Opportunities for VAs to network with peers located around the globe.
• Sponsor Showcases – Presentation by industry associations/forums etc. that support the convention.
• Intro to the VA Industry – Open session where individuals ask questions about becoming a VA.
• 2 Hot Seats VA Panel – VA business owners volunteer to present pressing business issues affecting their company (growth, development, marketing, resources, etc.) to a distinguished panel of seasoned VAs. The panel makes recommendations on how to resolve the issues and suggestions on how to take the business to the next level.
• Successful Industry Leaders Panel – Panel of experienced, profitable VA business owners discuss how they have built their business and what has contributed to their success. The panel will also take questions from the attendees.
• VA Training Programs Panel – Panel of VA trainers, coaches and mentors respond to questions from attendees about their courses.
• UK VA Issues Panel – Panel discussion specifically to discuss industry issues from the UK VA’s perspective.

JB: Do you know of other local VA networks, similar to the Golden Horseshoe Virtual Assistants Group?

SW: There are many locally-based VA networks in addition to Golden Horseshoe. Just to name a handful:

• Austin VAs
• TAVASA
• Silicon Valley Virtual Assistants
• Houston Area Virtual Assistants
• Atlanta Virtual Assistants Alliance
• Delaware Valley Virtual Assistants Association
• Michigan Virtual Assistants
• New England Virtual Assistants

JB: In your experience, how does a business owner know when it’s time to outsource work to a virtual professional?

SW: Great question! The answer is quite simple — when the owner is ready to stop working IN their business and begin working ON the business.

Working IN the business means handling the back office operations, spending an inordinate amount of time checking emails, submitting articles, writing and posting blog posts, updating your site, creating autoresponder series, etc. Many business owners are “putting out fires” or have become “crisis managers”, all examples of working IN the business.

Working ON your business means you have time to think about the future and how to use all that knowledge bottled up inside but not exercised because of day-to-day pressures. The owner can spend time developing a long term growth plan — circulating in the community, making contacts with other on and offline owners of small businesses, getting ideas, seeking out organizations made up of like-minded business people, networking and forming relationships, etc.

So, if the business owner is inundated or overwhelmed with internal operations-related duties, or new tasks they are unfamiliar with, lack time, skills, knowledge or the desire to perform, then it’s time to outsource to a virtual professional.

JB: What is your best tip for someone interested in starting a VA business?

SW: Participate in the convention!

Seriously, I feel the FIRST two steps an individual interested in starting a VA business must take are to create a written business plan and develop a marketing strategy. To me, they go hand-in-hand, and a new business owner should accomplish both. Now that doesn’t mean these documents need be voluminous – but it does mean they have to put their plan on paper to breathe life into it. It will entail conducting research, to determine that you have chosen a viable market, identify your ideal client and that they can afford your services. A written business plan will also help you identify your short and long term goals and objectives and create action items to achieve them. These steps will help lay a solid foundation for a VA’s growth and development.

Well Janet, once again, a great group of questions from a dynamic VA. Thanks for allowing the Blog Hopping and Podcast VA to visit and talk about the industry and upcoming convention. I hope your members will participate and enjoy the industry-wide camaraderie during the 3-day event, and in particular on Friday, May 21^st, International Virtual Assistants Day.

JB: Thank you, Sharon, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come and answer our questions. Readers, Sharon told me that she’d be happy to come back and answer any other questions you may have, so feel free to ask away!

Sharon, where are you going from here?

SW: Our next stop is VA Lisa Olinda of Olinda Services. Lisa hosts a podcast show as well as blog; between the two I am sure she will ask intense questions.  It’s time for a lunch break, so I wonder what fabulous munchies are available in the dining car. Stay tuned!

Sharon Williams is President of The 24 Hour Secretary and chair of the Online International Virtual Assistants Convention. Don’t forget to stop by OIVAC and checkout our lineup of savvy business owners. Visit the schedule and register for the Technology or Business/Marketing Tracks to propel your business to its next plateau.

Janet Barclay is Founder and Director of the Golden Horseshoe Virtual Assistants Group.