We live in a virtual world. As virtual assistants, for the most part, it is not necessary to leave our home office to do our work. Yet there are some cons to working solo in this environment. It can be lonely not to have the comaraderie we once had in an office setting. We no longer have the ready access to a fellow office mate to bounce ideas against and get instantaneous feedback on our work. Sure we can get that from other people online. But the connection is not quite the same.

Virtual assistants in many areas are creating meetup groups at Meetup.com. They meet regularly with one another as a group at a local setting. Here they are able to exchange ideas, brainstorm, and get encouragement to help them in their businesses. Some have other people come in and speak on topics that are of interest to the group and can help them develop their businesses.

I belong to such a group that meets in Roseville, Caliornia each month. The Northern California Virtual Assistants Meetup Group usually meets the fourth Saturday of each month. We've had a business coach come in and speak to us; someone else came in and spoke about their time tracking software; another coach came in to speak on getting out of our comfort zone; another came in to discuss our motivation in selling our services; another is coming to discuss organization and productivity tips.

Perhaps you can find or create a similar group in your area so that you and other virtual assistants have a way to brainstorm ideas and grow your businesses. Let's work together to grow the virtual assistant industry.

I'm very excited to announce a new VA Coaching Program.

If you'd like to start your new year with a bang, subscribe to our 5-month program.

Benefits:

• Access by email 24/7
• One 1-hour phone call each month with Joel and Sue
• Review of website, particularly in the area of marketing and SEO, any marketing materials, including business cards, brochures, postcards, cold calling scripts, etc., blog, articles and rates
• Assistance developing description of your ideal client, creating a 30-60 second pitch, a one page business plan, one page marketing plan and marketing calendar
• Products as listed below, one each month
• PDFs as listed below, one each month
• Questionnaire to determine your specific coaching needs
• We only work with ten clients at a time

Books and CDs included, valued at over $100:
(one mailed each month of paid coaching)

• The Commonsense Virtual Assistant: Becoming an Entrepreneur, Not an Employee

• Motivation 101: 5 Steps to Activate Your Potential in Any Economy, An Audio Mastery Course

• 49 Commonsense Business Observations

• The Commonsense Entrepreneur

• Surprise bonus business book

Bonus PDFs included:

• Self Promotion: Getting Started - includes marketing tools and resources

• Blogging for Your Business: includes 3 Keys to Successful Blogging and 5 Ways to Promote Your Blog, Finding the Time to Write and What to Write About, Ideas on How to Get More Traffic to Your Blog and a questionnaire to help you get started

• Article Submissions and Press Release Sites

• Duct Tape Marketing Guide: 7 Steps to Small Business Marketing Success

• Marketing and Promoting Your Teleseminar: a list of online sites you can post your teleseminars

• Weekly teleclass with coaches Joel D Canfield and Jerry L Kennedy

• Digital copies of all Business Heretics products: audios and ebooks

• First look at all new Canfield Kennedy content posted at the website