I’ve put something together for you to get more information about my coaching for Virtual Asistants.  Some stellar applications are coming through and I can only allow a limited number of VAs into my program.  Don’t wait.  If you’re ready to double your income, double your list, leverage your expertise, create high ticket programs, reposition your fees, and much, much more – visit http://1stva.com/step-it-up-va-coaching now to get your invitation and application.

~Donna

You’ve just returned from a conference, and you’re excited, motivated and feeling great!

The party’s not over just because you’re no longer wearing a name badge! Resist the urge to get “back to business” the minute you walk through the door – now is the best time to harness that positive energy and put what you’ve learned into action. Here are a few steps to help get you started.

1. Don’t turn the conference into a “shelf help” event, where you leave your materials and notes on the shelf when you return and go back to the old day-to-day. Create an action plan right away to implement what you have learned. If it seems overwhelming to create a whole plan right away, then take the one most important or interesting thing you learned and run with it.

2. Follow up with your new contacts; E-mail all the folks whose business cards you received, along with any of the conference staff, host, or speakers with whom you made a connection at the event. Even sending a short “nice to meet you” note is great. Perhaps you met someone with whom you would like to collaborate? Someone else who can refer your business to others and vice versa? Note one personal recollection from your interaction with that person – how you hope they enjoy their upcoming vacation, or have a successful product launch – let them know you were really listening to them and have an interest in what they had to say. Or, maybe there is someone you would like to thank – the speaker who inspired you, the host who welcomed you – a simple act of appreciation can turn them from acquaintances into allies.

3. Find your new contacts on Facebook and “friend” them. They may also have a presence on Twitter, Linked In, Plaxo, or other business and social networking sites. Perhaps you belong to a Facebook group you think would be of interest to one of them, or have friends to suggest to them?

4. Take action on the home front. Make sure you have marketing materials or products ready to send out to new contacts, customers or potential clients, and that your website/shopping cart are updated and able to handle lots of traffic! Now is also the time to determine how things went with your team or staff while you were away, and make any changes or improvements if necessary so your business can handle more regular time with you on the road.

5. Finally, give yourself a frank performance review. What kind of a first impression did you make? Was your business pitch refined and natural, or do you need to work on your confidence or public speaking skills? Did you hand out as many business cards or meet as many new faces as you had intended at the event? Make an honest assessment of the way you interacted at the event, and make notes of how you can make the next one even better.

Donna Toothaker is CEO and founder of 1st VA the highly sought-after online marketing and consulting company. 1st VA specializes in providing online marketing support and services to entrepreneurs and solopreneurs who wish to effectively build or improve their online presence. Visit http://www.1stva.com to sign up for our valuable weekly ezine and receive a free special report, The Top 5 Essential Tasks for the Ultimate Online Promotion of Your Business.

…isn’t going to stay in Vegas this time!

I had a fabulous time at the Ali Brown Shine Event this past weekend. I met incredible entrepreneurs! I enjoyed my luxurious suite at the Venetian with a good friend and colleague. I got my picture taken with “Elvis”. I ate great food. And even though my feet hurt from walking so much in my high heels, and even though I didn’t win any money gambling – I’m so glad I didn’t miss it!

A client had asked me to share with him my 2 biggest take-aways from being at the event, so I thought I would share here also.

1. There is an incredible power in being surrounded by amazing entrepreneurs. I left inspired, motivated and more jazzed about my business than I’ve been in a long time. The new projects and ideas I’m going to start working on aren’t overwhelming me, rather, I’m excited to implement and begin to increase my company’s offerings to serve more people.

2. I don’t have to try to squeeze my company into one business model. My business isn’t a cookie-cutter business and the reaffirming that it’s okay to utilize parts (or all) of more than one business model was huge for me!

While there were so many more take-aways – these were the biggies for me. And while there is some “grumbling” online from people who were unhappy with certain things about the event – I feel it’s a shame that these folks weren’t open to receiving any “good” from being there.

~Donna

If you haven’t signed up for Ali Brown’s groundbreaking SHINE
Event yet, NOW is the time. Why? Early bird pricing ends today. That’s $500 off the full price registration rates! Today, Wednesday, August 5, is the last day to enjoy these discounts.

I’ll be there! And I want to meet you in person!

Peek at Ali’s new SHINE website, learn more about the event, and
register here!

This dynamic woman is paving a new road for entrepreneurs -
especially women. The important thing to know is that Ali’s
methods work – she’s helped everyone from home-based moms to
millionaires double or triple their revenues by ramping up their
businesses.

SHINE is not just any seminar where you leave with a notebook
and your head full of ideas, but nothing concrete to implement.
You’ll complete the weekend with your business and income
strategies mapped out and ready to go! Yes, REALLY.

Ali’s SHINE website has all the details. Click here!

REMEMBER, early bird pricing ENDS today, so NOW is the
time to learn more and reserve your seat.

Won’t you join me in November?

~Donna

Kids:        YEAAAAAAAAH!!!
Me:        NOOOOOOOO!!!

Working at home with kids is always a balancing act.  When school lets out for summer, however, it can feel more like a full-fledged three-ring circus for a couple of months!  If your child isn’t heading for overnight camp, if you can’t cut work hours or take a month off, how do you find the time and space to focus on your work, while avoiding a looped chorus of “Mom, I’m bored?”

Here are a few tips I’ve discovered over the past several summers:

6.    Consider childcare. Chances are there is at least one responsible young person in your neighborhood looking for a summer job.  Why not hire him/her to come to your house and play with the kids for a few hours a week?  You’ll be at home in case of emergency, and they won’t be bored!

Whatever you do, make sure to devote some time every day to enjoying these warm summer days with your kid(s).  When in doubt, remember:  work can wait.  Childhood can’t.

Donna Toothaker is CEO and founder of 1st VA the highly sought-after online marketing and consulting company. 1st VA specializes in providing online marketing support and services to entrepreneurs and solopreneurs who wish to effectively build or improve their online presence. To discover how 1st VA can help your business – visit http://www.1stva.com.