I have the privilege of viewing Virtual Assistants’ Web sites through my volunteering as a member of the steering committee of the Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce and also find myself perusing blog entries, Web sites, and press releases of those in my target market - Holistic Business Owners and Holistic Service Providers.
What I find is quite surprising.
I’ve been on so many Web sites and have no idea where in the world the practices are located. Now, I realize when you operate virtually as a Coach, Intuit, Spiritual Communicator, or Virtual Assistant- that is not a huge concern as you can service your clients from anywhere. But - I still want to know who and where someone is that I may be considering working with. I don’t think I’m alone in this. “Way back when” (LOL!) our advertising was done in the yellow pages - we shared at least an area and phone number. Now, a lot of times - the only option to reach out to someone is through a contact form. How extremely impersonal! That turns me right off. What is the harm is saying you are in Maine or Texas? Or leaving an email address - not just a contact form if we want a consultation? Maybe someone just wants to say “Hey - I see what you are trying to do and convey to people and I think it’s great?”
Also, many do not include a link or information about their business on their blog. Which is surprising and quite frankly - bad business. If your blog is an extension of your practice - why in the world would you not make it easy for readers to link to your business? Here’s mine: A Capital Solution. I link to it in almost every blog post and have a link in the sidebar. I welcome anyone to contact me or leave a comment to a post.
That’s the other thing, many don’t allow for comments on their blog - at all. I allow comments, although I do need to approve them. That is not because I want to censor and keep out anyone who may have a differing opinion - I just don’t want spamming or MLM crud. In fact - I love well articulated disagreeing. I think it brings out a lot of information and makes us all use our brains a bit more.
In addition - many do not really even give a name or anything that tells me “who” they are and “what” they do.
There is a blog that I could love. The person has - I think - a lot of good information for those in the Massage, Yoga, and Chiropractic fields - but I don’t link to it because: I have NO IDEA who this person is or what their reason is for offering the information. I’m not sure of the accuracy of what is posted because of this lack of background. Oh, and you can’t comment to posts. There is no link to a business Web site. I do think I once found an email link - but that was after searching and using all my backdoor methods to identify the owner. The killer part of all this is - that they really seem to sound like they know what they are talking about and the information may be very useful - but I can not support it because I can not “talk” to the person!!!!
I love passing hints and information along to those who can use it - but I need some level of comfort in what is being said and by whom. I won’t just repeat what I read somewhere without knowing the source well enough to know their information is good or being able to confirm it myself. I just won’t do it.
I just can’t wrap my brain around this.
I thought blogging was all about sharing and voicing your opinions. And, if you grew your business or found others to network with in the process - all the better!
So, am I to assume, when you hide your identity or make it so that we need to be super-sleuths to uncover it - that you are not willing to stand behind your convictions and enter into a friendly online diatribe with others who have a vested interest in what you are writing about?
If that’s the case - keep a personal journal! A written diary that you keep tucked under your mattress so that no one needs to read it or react to it. That way - you’re still getting your ideas and rants off your chest but not pretending that you want feedback. Geez - it’s not an ego thing, or it shouldn’t be. It should be about sharing ideas and growing and learning from what others have to say.
So - ask yourself - are you hiding? And if so - is it on purpose or by accident?
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