Virtual Offices
My Virtual Project Puts Social Media Spin on VAs
Published February 1st, 2009 by Jennifer LeClaire
Virtual office assistants are getting savvier to the world of social media. They have to if they want to compete for clients in a Web 2.0 era. That’s because Web-based companies are coming to market with new services that offer lower-cost alternatives to traditional virtual employees.
Case in point: My Virtual Project. The company offers a cadre of virtual office assistant solutions, from administrative services to Web design to desktop publishing, but the company’s just-launched Social Media Marketing services are what sets it apart from the traditional virtual office assistant pack.
My Virtual Project is looking to help small businesses leverage social media to increase visibility and cut costs in a down economy. Specifically, the company is using social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to help entrepreneurs and small businesses develop critical business relationships.
Selling Social Media Marketing
My Virtual Project has built the service, but will small businesses come knocking on their door to sign up? The company is offering some compelling statistics in effort to convince small business owners they need to tap into the power of social media.
The virtual office assistance firm points to statistics that show up to 70 percent of consumers today are using the Internet and social networking to learn more about people they are doing business with or are planning to do business with. I couldn’t find a source for that statistic, so maybe My Virtual Project can clarify where it’s getting those numbers. However, in my research I did discover some validated statistics that tell a similar story.
For example, a study from Awareness reveals 63 percent of companies are using social media to build and promote their brand, 61 percent are using it to improve communication and collaboration, and 58 percent are using it to increase consumer engagement. There are numerous studies that offer similar takes.
My Virtual Project’s Proposition
The bottom line: a strong Internet presence is a must-have for doing business in today’s “connected” world and social networking and social media marketing is an effective way to establish that presence.
My Virtual Project is a certified specialist in Social Media Marketing. I did some digging here, too, since the company doesn’t offer up any information about where those credentials came from. I discovered a site called VAClassroom.
VAClassroom is a company that trains virtual assistants with skills and knowledge such as affiliate marketing, blogging, web analytics, online project management, web content editing, e-mail marketing and Internet research.
Pushing the Benefits
My Virtual Project is pushing the benefits of virtual administrative services. It points to research from the Virtual Assistant Networking Association that estimates a company can save as much as $60,000 a year by hiring a virtual assistant.
Much like renting meeting rooms or using virtual offices on an as-needed basis, small businesses can receive the help they need without a full-time commitment or a full time price. Like freelancers in any field, virtual assistants use their own office space and office equipment, and don’t get benefits, sick days, vacation time or break time. They work by the hour or by the assignment on a “only pay for what you need” service model.
Right now, My Virtual Project is offering a 15 percent discount new customers’ first project. The company is also offering a free, no-obligation proposal to address your specific requirements.
I’ve never heard of My Virtual Project, but the company claims 30 years of experience in administrative, technical and project management experience. I wasn’t at all impressed with the company’s Web site, and wouldn’t suggest using the firm to build on for you, but that doesn’t mean the company doesn’t do other things well.
All that said, you can read some of the company’s testimonials here and decide for yourself if this company offers the right labor solutions for your small business.
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About the Author
Marcus Hester February 2nd, 2009 at 4:14 am
Interesting. Once more example of the “virtual” craze. From virtual offices to virtual worlds to virtual assistants to virtual social media marketing firms, it seems one trend of the day is moving away from bricks-and-mortar-based employees to more flexible office and employee solutions.
I could see how a virtual office could set up a virtual network of agencies, employees and technologies to accomplish a task with a workforce that never meets face to face.
Asian Serviced Office Operator Leverage YouTube | aBetterOffice February 2nd, 2009 at 10:24 am
[...] Offices Meet Social Media I wrote yesterday about My Virtual Project and how the company is pushing its social media marketing services for companies that want a [...]
Rob Zeus February 2nd, 2009 at 10:58 am
There’s no doubt virtual offices and virtual assistants are the right solution for many companies in this economy. But I have to say, My Virtual Project doesn’t put its best foot forward with this web site. A company that develops web sites and doesn’t have a good one shoots itself in the foot. That said, their social media marketing services may be right on target.
My Virtual Project February 2nd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
My Virtual Project greatly appreciates the feedback by Jennifer LeClaire of aBetterOffice.com and would like to respond with additional information to address and clarify some questions raised in her article.
Statistics: There are many statistics that show an ever-increasing trend in consumers turning to the internet for their goods and services. Here are just a few:
70% of consumers Use Internet to Research Consumer Packaged Goods.
75% of consumers Say Internet is Their First-Choice Resource for Drug Treatment Information
Prospectiv Survey
75% of new-vehicle buyers go online to do research.
J.D. Power and Associates
69% of consumers research product features online and 68% compare prices online before shopping in a physical store
Accenture
71% of consumers are expected to spend at least part of their holiday budgets on the Internet
Deloitte LLP
60% of Consumers Researching Weight Loss Use the Internet
comScore Pharmaceutical Solutions
78% of women between the ages of 18 – 54 said they use the Internet to obtain product information before making a purchase.
Millward Brown IntelliQuest
98% of B2B buyers search in Google
Marketing Sherpa – reported by Hubspot
——–
It is evident that business owners must see the value of Social Media as part of their overall Marketing Mix.
84% of North American companies feel they require new methods to interact with customers, including Social Media and mobile devices.
Coleman-Parkes Research
It is also evident that Social Media has become an expected activity from the consumer’s viewpoint.
60% of American citizens used Social Media.
Of those, 93% indicated business should have a Social Media presence and 85% indicated businesses should interact via Social Networks with their customers.
The 2008 Cone Business in Social Media Study
With powerful results such as these it is hard to comprehend why businesses are not implementing Social Media Marketing. Businesses of today need to undertake a Social Media Program to succeed in an increasingly competitive and connected business environment, not doing so is a risk to the overall success of the business and its stake holders.
Social Media Marketing Certification:
My Virtual Project was recently certified in Social Media Marketing (SMM) by VAClassroom. We have added SMM as an addition to the already defined Administrative Support service offerings. The company does have a combined 30 years of experience in many aspects of Information Technology, Project Management, Consulting and Administrative Support Services. The partner’s credentials can be found on the company website http://www.myvirtualproject.com as well as on their respective profiles on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Website Development:
My Virtual Project specializes in helping small businesses with cost-effective ways to develop and strengthen their brand and increase their online presence. The website service offering is designed to be quick, easily maintained and low cost. Many small businesses and start-up companies do not want, and quite often are not in a financial position to spend thousands of dollars on a website. However, for those companies that do want the high-end, custom developed websites, we have business relationships with developers that can deliver that service.
Bill Brookshire February 3rd, 2009 at 6:31 am
I think the concept is strong, but if it were me I’d visit this VAClassroom and see who else is certified in the social media program. This My Virtual Project company may be very good, but I don’t even see any examples of the virtual campaigns it has launched for its own company, much less others.
Jennifer LeClaire February 4th, 2009 at 6:12 am
Thanks to My Virtual Project for coming on with additional information. We always welcome that.
I think turning to the Internet for information on products and services and using social media in that regard are two different things. There aren’t as many reputable studies on social media’s impact on business. We’re seeing more research coming out on this front.
I believe social networking is a vital way to build relationships in this day and age, and its branding benefits are at least visible from an anecdotal sense. But it has to be done the right way, like anything else.
Mishandling social media campaigns can do more harm than good.