HOME
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The
2-Second Commute
Based on the
highly-successful Virtual Assistant training programs Chris Durst and
Michael Haaren developed
for the US Armed Forces and the US Department of State, The 2-Second Commute:
Join the Exploding Ranks of Freelance Virtual Assistants brings
you the knowledge without
the classroom!
Training program
participants have billed over $30
MILLION since our training programs started in 2002. Now YOU can learn from Chris & Mike,
too, and start your own successful VA business!
2-SECOND
COMMUTE
CHAPTERS
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1
Why
Become a Virtual
Assistant?
- personal & professional reasons to
explore this
industry
Chapter 2
Exploring
Virtual
Assistance
- virtual assistance defined
- industry demographics
- services, fees, and trends
- why businesses work with VAs
- international outlook
Chapter 3
Reality
Checks &
Self-Assessments
- exploring important considerations -
motives,
lifestyle,
family, children, etc.
- entrepreneurial self-assessment
- VA readiness self-assessment
- Spouse With a Mouse™ - from our
Department of State
and US
Armed Forces training programs, a special section to help your
"significant other" understand what it will be like to have a business
in the house.
Developing
a "Service
Menu" That You Can Live and Grow With
- inventory your values, interests, and
skills to
determine
your most marketable skills
Chapter 5
Estimating
Costs and
Setting Fees
- projecting your costs, picking your
"salary", setting
your hour, and our special formula for calculating a reasonable
baseline fee
- comprehensive fee survey (see what other
VAs are
charging)
- getting paid -contracts, credit cards,
invoices,
retainers, etc.
Chapter 6
Setting
Up Your
Business and Your Office
- naming and registering your business
- forms of business ownership
- permits and licenses
- insurance
- home office setup
Chapter 7
Building
a Healthy
Foundation for Your Business
- defining your ideal client, interviewing
clients,
partnering with clients
- the art of virtual communications
- SWOT analysis - discovering your
Strengths,
Weaknesses,
Opportunities, and Threats
- the benefits of "niche marketing" -
identifying your
target
market
Chapter 8
Let
the Marketing
Begin!
- image is everything
- talking about what you "do"
- marketing and email
- your Web site - your "global billboard"
- press releases
- harvesting the local "business crop"
- leveraging the media
- guest lecturing
- our 5 favorite marketing techniques
- the Strategic Marketing Plan - your
blueprint for
building
a successful business through effective marketing
Chapter 9
Pulling
It All
Together and
Keeping It There
- a collection of tips, tool, techniques,
and pointers
for
making your business a success
Chapter 10
The
VA Toolbox:
Resources and Information
- VA trade groups, email lists,
certifications and
training
programs
- specialized resources for homeschoolers,
"trailing
spouses", work at home parents, and people with disabilities
- resources and other information for the
"frugal VA"
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Work from home as a
 The niche in a nutshell:
The essence of your business is to help people build and
strengthen their personal and business relationships. You accomplish
this by
creating and delivering gift baskets to help your clients express their
sentiments.
Top 5 Services Provided in this Niche
- Help clients with the
gift-giving process
- Design and assemble gift
baskets
- Deliver gift baskets
- Ship gift baskets
- Reminder and/or greeting
card service (optional)
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Top 5 Hiring Markets
- Corporations
- Realtors, home builders, and
mortgage professionals
- Service businesses
- Hotels and conventions
- Individual consumers
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Pay Range for this Niche
Earnings are
dependent on your overall sales and costs. According to The Gift
Basket Review state of the industry report, the average price for a
corporate gift basket was $61.89 in 2005. Depending on how well
you run your business, you can make a profit of 30%-50%. Based on
the average price of $61.89, you would make $18- $30 for each basket
you sell.
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Recommended Skillsets
- Good with people
- Able to keep commitments
- Enjoy being creative
- Good at customer service
- Resourcefulness
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Niche
Overview
Owning a gift basket
business is fun, and the day is always different. In a typical
transaction, your client would order a gift basket over the telephone
or on your website. The gift basket business is unique in the sense
that your client will typically never see the basket. They instead will
have you send the gift basket to another person or business.
Your job is to create
a gift basket, and have that basket delivered or
shipped to the intended recipient. You want to create
something that expresses your client’s sentiment or reason for sending
the gift basket. Your gift basket must look nice and have quality
products in it. You will likely either deliver or ship the gift basket
yourself, or pay for someone to deliver the gift basket for you.
The most common gift baskets are gourmet food baskets, baby baskets,
new home baskets, and condolence baskets
You will probably carry some inventory so that you have all the
supplies on hand to make gift baskets for your clients. Before you
start buying a bunch of inventory, you must first know who your target
audience is, so that you carry the products that meet their needs. Many
new gift basket entrepreneurs initially buy too much inventory, and
often buy the wrong kind of inventory. The products you choose should
be quality products that have a high perceived value.
Drop ship programs are available if you are an entrepreneur who just
wants to promote a website, rather than do order fulfillment. Drop ship
companies will take care of the gift basket assembly and shipping for
you.
FAQ:
HOW DO I KNOW
IF THERE IS A MARKET FOR GIFT BASKETS IN MY AREA?
As long as people buy gifts for each other there will always be a need
for gift baskets. Today gift baskets are the most popular choice
of gift giving by both the giver and receiver. Corporate businesses as
well as the general public have a continuing need for gift
baskets.
WHAT ARE SOME
OF THE CHALLENGES?
According to the Gift Basket Review state of the industry report, the 5
top challenges facing gift basket companies today are:
1. Competition from large merchants/discounters
2. Generating unique, fresh ideas for customers/clients
3. Gas and shipping costs
4. Rising cost of product
5. Getting good markups
COULD I KEEP
MY REGULAR JOB WHILE DOING THIS?
If you can plan and budget your time you should not have any problems
running this business on a part time basis. If you work during the day
you can get voice mail for your business. Let your customers know that
you will be checking your messages at a certain time and that you will
get back to them at that time. Make sure you follow up on all messages.
You can make your baskets in the evening when you are at home. If you
have deliveries that need to be made, line up some friends, students,
or a courier service that would be able to do this for you on an as
needed basis.
HOW WOULD I
MARKET MY GIFT BASKETS?
Never under estimate the power of word of mouth!! Start out by
selling to family, friends and coworkers. Tell other parents,
your doctor, your hairstylist, your dentist, etc. You'll be amazed how
fast word of mouth spreads. You also should network as much as
possible. There are many ways to do this, from the school PTA to local
charity groups to organized business networking groups. Make sure
you have plenty of business cards too. Give two or three to everyone
you associate with and ask them to pass a couple on to friends. You can
also visit local businesses and let them know about your services.
Recommended Reading
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Tools of the Trade
- Heat
gun
- Scissors
- Other supplies are optional
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Organizations & Associations
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Resource Links
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About
Rita Wilhelm
Rita
Wilhelm owned, operated and sold a successful gift basket business in
Denver, Colorado. With over 10 years of operations experience
behind her, she now consults and helps gift basket professionals effectively
market their businesses. Be sure to check out her ebook
at http://www.rockhillcottage.com
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