Food for Thought
NVAS - New Name, New Features, New Look
Upcoming Events
Thank You To Our Sponsors - ASAP Solutions, Flying Cardboard, KEY Solutions
4U, Labcreek, Web World Wizardry
We Want To Hear From YOU!
Marketing Tips - What Exactly IS An Online Brochure?
Members, You Can Earn Free Membership!
NVAS Steering Committee Contact Information
The secret to success is to do the common things uncommonly well.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
NVAS
- New Name,
New Features, New Look
Welcome to the beginning of the new NVAS!
NVAS has taken steps to improve its name, look, and features.
In the end of 2003, the Steering Committee met and decided to broaden the reach of NVAS and the frist step included a name change. The name has officially changed from the National Virtual Assistants Society to the National Virtual Associates Society. Though subtle, the Steering Committee felt it was important to reach out to all that are part of the virtual world.
In addition, the word "associates" in Webster's dictionary means "to join with as a friend, colleague, confederate or partner; to class together; to express agreement with; a member of a group; affiliated.
This definition describes NVAS well, and we all feel that it will provide a much clearer picture of what NVAS is all about. Bringing people together, supporting each other.
The next step for us was to create additional opportunities for people to attend the NVAS meetings. Therefore, working with Deborah Amsberry of KEY Solutions 4U, we have launched an online option for all NVAS meetings. These sessions allow for people all of the country to join meetings together, live. This allows for more networking and discussion between the attendees. Keep an eye out for upcoming sessions, as well as new developments.
One of our new developments includes an online showcase this year. The showcase will be held in November and is titled "Show & Tell". It will allow each participant 3 to 5 minutes to showcase their service or business in an online meeting room. Participants will be able to include their logos, miscellaneous marketing materials, mini presentations, and/or bios. As well as, having an opportunity to include their 30-second commercial.
Another step taken was to create a new look and feel. This was a joint effort by members of the NVAS Steering Committee, which included Doug Martinez Wynn and Alicia Martinez Wynn of Flying Cardboard, Adrian Martinez of Web World Wizardry, and Theresa Martinez of ASAP Solutions. The new design was developed by Doug Martinez Wynn of Flying Cardboard, which was implemented into the new newsletter design by Theresa Martinez of ASAP Solutions, and is implemented into the newly developed NVAS web site by Adrian Martinez of Web World Wizardry. Please take a look at the new site (www.nvas.org) and let us know what you think!
For more information, or to provide feedback, please contact us at committee@nvas.org.
The Growth Guild
All events are FREE, unless otherwise noted.
All Events Being
Held LIVE Online
The new online learning sessions are brought to you in collaboration by
ASBA (Arizona Small Business Association),
KEY Solutions 4U, and NVAS
(National Virtual Associates Society). Space is limited and will fill
quickly so make your reservation today. RSVP at rsvp@nvas.org.
July 30, 2004
9:30 am - 11:30 am PDT
(10:30 MDT, 11:30 CDT, 12:30 EDT)
Managing Your Virtual Office
Presented by Theresa Martinez, ASAP
Solutions
August 27, 2004
9:30 am - 11:30 am PDT
(10:30 MDT, 11:30 CDT, 12:30 EDT)
Internet Marketing
Presented by Adrian Martinez, Web
World Wizardry
September 24, 2004
9:30 am - 11:30 am PDT
(10:30 MDT, 11:30 CDT, 12:30 EDT)
Business Planning Essentials
October 29, 2004
9:30 am - 11:30 am PDT
(10:30 MDT, 11:30 CDT, 12:30 EDT)
Visual Marketing Essentials for Your Business!
Presented by Doug Wynn, Flying
Cardboard
& Theresa Martinez, ASAP
Solutions
November 19, 2004
9:30 am - 11:30 am PDT
(10:30 MDT, 11:30 CDT, 12:30 EDT)
Show & Tell
Presented by YOU! Contact us for more information, info@nvas.org
These events will include a speaker/facilitator on significant topics for business owners & others looking at starting a business. If you are interested in facilitating or sponsoring an event, please contact us for more information.
TOPICS: Have a topic you'd like to hear about? Email us at info@nvas.org and let us know.
Check our calendar for more detailed and updated information... information will also be included in our meeting reminders.
ASAP Solutions,
Flying Cardboard,
KEY Solutions 4U,
Labcreek,
Web World Wizardry
THANK
YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
You have made all of this possible!
**********************************
ASAP Solutions
"Creating Quality Solutions"
877-515-5055
info@asap-solutions.com
http://www.asap-solutions.com
ASAP Solutions provides Desktop Publishing and Graphic Design services to help create high quality, great impressions for you and your business at great rates!
**********************************
Flying Cardboard
“...so out of the box!”
602-621-0693
info@flyingcardboard.com
http://www.flyingcardboard.com
Flying Cardboard specializes
in digital media design & development for print and web. Digital Photography,
Video, and Interactive Media.
**********************************
KEY Solutions
4U
“Your WorldWide Business Connection”
928-636-7794
deborah@keysolutions4u.com
http://www.keysolutions4u.com
KEY Solutions 4U provides
an online, user-friendly business learning environment and improve the
way business contacts meet, as well as the information needed to build
and develop the skills and knowledge necessary for your advancement both
personally and professionally.
**********************************
Labcreek
“Technical Solutions for the Web and Beyond”
480-445-0110
http://www.labcreek.net
Labcreek provides technical
solutions and web hosting.
**********************************
Web World Wizardry
"Every Web Site Begins with WWW"
480-515-2832
info@webworldwiz.com
http://www.webworldwiz.com
Web World Wizardry designs visually pleasing sites with intuitive navigational
systems and usability in mind.
**********************************
MEMBERS - Have
news to share? Specials to announce? Articles to submit? We would love
to get the word out! Email us at news@nvas.org
& let us know!
We Want To Hear From YOU!
NVAS is seeking articles, annoucements, tips & tricks & more for our eNewsletter & web site.
If you would like to submit an article or announcement for an issue of our eNewsletter, please email us at news@nvas.org.
If you would like to submit a tip or trick for our Tips & Tricks section of the web site, please email us at tips@nvas.org.
What Exactly IS An Online Brochure?
By Adrian Martinez, Web World Wizardry & Theresa Martinez, ASAP Solutions
We all know in the print world that a brochure is powerful means of marketing your business, if created right. Technology today allows us to bring that powerful marketing tool to a new level. With the multi-dimensional web world, you have the potential to do so much more.
An "online brochure" can provide a user friendly overview of your services or products that allows customers or clients to browse when is convenient for them, focusing on the services or products that are most important to them.
In addition, an online brochure can also save you time and money by avoiding printing costs, as well as reaches prospective customers or clients that you may not have met in person.
Some things to consider when creating an online brochure include:
1. Company Overview
A concise overview
of your company's services is a critical site element. This description
should include an umbrella overview of your offerings, and details about
each line of business or type of service you offer. Be sure to include
your business's unique value in your service description. For example,
if you are the first, the most experienced, the bestknown, the largest,
etc., include this detail. (But be honest.) Your description should focus
on why someone should buy from your business instead of your competition.
2. Benefits of
Using Your Company's Services
Potential customers
are interested in learning what you do, but are even more curious about
what's in it for them. Your site provides an opportunity to educate them
about the payoff from using your services. Convey whether you will save
customers money or time, make them look good, improve the way they do
business, or provide another benefit. For example, a technology support
services company can provide basic numbers regarding the amount of money
most businesses waste on unresolved technical problems. A cleaning service
can create a quiz that calculates the amount of time people spend each
year cleaning, as a way to encourage them to off-load this chore.
3. Bios
Providing details about the roles, work experience, educational background,
training and awards that you and your team have will go a long way toward
encouraging people to buy from your service business. Keep team bios brief
by focusing on relevant experience. To create your short list of credentials,
consider what experience or background your clients will value most based
on the challenges they face.
4. Portfolio/Samples
Because customers of
a service business cannot touch and examine your offering before buying,
samples help close a sale. Samples should be real, based on actual work
you have done for other clients. For example, a PR firm might provide
a series of press releases to demonstrate its skills, while a design firm
could link to a Web site or two that it has created. (If you are just
starting out, you should volunteer your services to a potential client
to show what you can do.) Always obtain client permission before showcasing
work you have done on your site. Steer away from providing an exhaustive
client list on your site because competitors may use it for business development
purposes.
5. Testimonials
Quotes from clients about the quality of your services are a strong sales
tool. Happy clients are usually glad to provide these statements. The
focus of quotes should be the elements of your particular service that
are most important, such as depth of industry knowledge, attention to
detail, timely delivery, or capacity to improve a business discipline.
Testimonials that are credited to a client are much more powerful than
anonymous quotes — so use approved client names whenever possible.
6. Contact Info
Few things hurt credibility more than a lack of company contact information
on a Web site. Provide easy-to-find information on your office location,
mailing address, phone number, and online contact(s). Designating individual
e-mails for departments such as sales and customer service will encourage
people to e-mail you. It is not necessary to have a huge staff to use
these designations — you can use e-mail aliases and have multiple
e-mails directed to one or two people.
Adrian Martinez,
Web World Wizardry
480-515-2832
adrian@webworldwiz.com
http://www.webworldwiz.com
Theresa Martinez,
ASAP Solutions
480-515-5055
theresa@asap-solutions.com
http://www.asap-solutions.com
Membership
Drive -
Members, You Can Earn
Free Membership!
Members, you can earn free membership!
For every new member you refer to us, you receive an additional month of membership!
Don't forget to invite friends and colleagues to an event!
The NVAS Steering Committee is here to help implement new ideas, develop new areas, plan speakers/events, & assist members & non-members with questions! Our committee consists of Theresa A. Martinez of ASAP Solutions, Adrian M. Martinez of Web World Wizardry, Deborah Amsberry of KEY Solutions 4U, Doug Martinez Wynn of Flying Cardboard, Alicia Martinez Wynn of Flying Cardboard, Erin Roach of Balanced Books, & Jennifer Holstad of A Byte In Time Business Support Services. If you have any questions, ideas, or feedback for the Steering Committee, please contact us at committee@nvas.org.
National
Virtual Associates Society
eMail: info@nvas.org
Phone:
1.877.515.5055
Fax: 1.866.515.5051