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Are You Trying To Sell A One Room House?

Suzanne Roy — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:08:03 +0000

Listen Carefully!

Someone I deeply respect and admire (and quite possibly just as importantly, understands my english dry sense of humor) caused me to experience a paradigm shift today.

He brought to my attention a blog post he wrote earlier this year about Streams. No not the gently flowing kind you find outdoors, but the streams that we all take part in online – streams that at one time were considered simple spokes to the almighty hub.

Image courtesy of www.theconversationprism.com

The problem with the almighty hub scenario is this:

Envision an apple that had just a core. Or, better yet, a house with a single room and no other rooms to make it a home. Where’s the substance in that?

To concentrate solely on gaining a following, a growing sphere, a lead generation via just its hub or core is not only wrong, but foolish.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of opportunities to procure relationships and leads through the streams – and it is through those streams that make up the true hub of your online presence. To treat these streams as just a means to the core is truly the wrong approach.

Matthew Shadbolt, Director of Interactive Product & Marketing with The Corcoran Group, is a shining example of exactly how your streams should be nurtured. I encourage you to not only follow Matthew but see how he has grown each of his streams into full fledged flowing rivers, each producing their own source of real relationships and, ultimately, real business.

In fact, Matthew has done his job so well with all of his streams, that I do not even know the name of his “hub” or if he even has one.

That’s because his streams ARE his hub.

I am, therefore, inviting you to join me in taking a real hard look at your online presence today. Ask yourself:

“Am I treating my streams like spokes are are each of them an equally important part of my overall hub“?

“Am I taking the time to nurture each of my streams or are they running dry“?

“Am I relying solely on my “hub” to build relationships or am I building out my online presence with each of my streams“?

The way in which we conduct our business(es) today is different than yesterday, just as it will be different tomorrow. Today we need to nurture our streams – Twitter, Facebook profiles, pages, groups, LinkedIN, Youtube, Pinterest, etc., – and not just use them as a means to an end. They are SO much more than that. They are the vines bearing the fruit!*

So how exactly do you nurture streams?

1. Don’t treat them as just a course of action.

2. Be deliberate in all that you do.

3. Make yourself known just as much on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN, Google+, Pinterest, as you do in your blog.

4. Avoid the “auto-post” wherever possible (if you tweet something on Twitter, don’t use hashtags if you’re going to auto-post to LinkedIN, for example – that’s a HUGE turn off!)

5. Be consistent

6. Be real

This is yet another reason why you should not only follow, but fully and intentionally examine what Matthew Shadbolt, says and does on a daily basis.

Thank you, Matthew, for making me (and hopefully others) look at the entire apple and not just it’s core.

* John 15:5

#1 Real Estate Virtual Assistant Tip of the Week

Suzanne Roy — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:31:31 +0000

#1 Real Estate Virtual Assistant Tip of the Week

Getting Shoppers To Shop!

This morning I had a great conversation with a new connection I made directly through my social networking efforts. He gave me some wonderfully refreshing information that reminded me to remind you what the purpose of all this is:

What is Your Ultimate Goal?

To Make Money!

But how do you make money?

It’s a three step process:

Get Traffic
Get Leads
Solidify Sales

Many Real Estate Virtual Assistants and their Real Estate Agent clients have #1 down with their blogging, online listing marketing, social networking, etc., but what about #2 (and subsequently #3)? How are you getting those shoppers to shop?

You must incorporate opt-ins throughout your websites, which includes your social networking sites.

Here’s an example of an opt-in created within a Facebook Fan Page:

By simply adding this embedded form on your Facebook Fan Page (remember, this is NOT your Facebook Profile – that is for your PERSONAL life!) you will gain leads instead of just browsers.

You will also notice at the bottom of this blog, another opt-in. This can be incorporated on any website or blog – you have to give your audience a way into your show! Have multiple doors in place and the higher the liklihood that they will enter. And the more that enters, the more shows (or in your case, Sales) you will be able to execute.

Now don’t be shy – opt-in!

Virtual Assistant Rates

Suzanne Roy — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:12:23 +0000

Virtual Assistant Rates

Fees are rated on a per project schedule or via a Retainer Agreement. When a Retainer Agreement is not in place, or the number of hours deemed required is less than 12 per month, the hourly rate is $60.00. When a Retainer Agreement is applied, the hourly rate is $45.00.

Projects that are deemed necessary to be completed outside of normal business hours by Client (refer to General Information), will be billed additionally and at a premium rate of $60.00 per hour.

Terms and Conditions

V.A. Work uses TraxTime time tracker for accurate billing purposes. Expenses incurred for projects are tracked accordingly, itemized and added to the monthly invoice. V.A. Work does not charge for minor expenses, however, we do charge for any postage, shipping, mileage, printing costs or other specialized services that may be necessary to complete your specific project, at cost (receipts provided).

All invoices are sent via email and fax and are payable within 5 calendar days. When a project is being paid via our base hourly rate (at $60.00 per hour), 50% of project quote is due prior to work being started and the remaining 50% is due once completed, prior to being delivered. Hourly work is charged in 15 minute increments, with a 4 hour minimum. Retainer fees (of 12 hours or more per month) are due prior to work being started, on a monthly basis. V.A. Work reserves the right to charge additional fees for “Rush” projects. A $25.00 fee will be applied for any returned checks. Payments not received within 5 days of invoice date will be subject to an additional 10% charge additional to the monthly fee.

Payments may be made via online payment method through Google Checkout (an online invoice will be emailed to you at the beginning of each month), Paypal, credit card, personal or business check, money order or cashier’s check.