As an entrepreneur and small business owner, you’ve probably heard the term “Virtual Assistant (VA)” and know what it means.  However, there are still misconceptions that exist.  I’m going to attempt to clear that up in this blog post.

“A Virtual Assistant is a professional who specializes in providing administrative support and expertise,” says Danielle Keister of Virtual Assistant Chamber of Commerce in her blog post.  To read more of Danielle’s post, click here.  The business community is still conditioned to think of virtual assistants as administrative assistants.  This type of thinking can devalue the true worth of a Virtual Assistant; therefore, potential clients tend to focus on the cost of the services rather than the value a VA can bring to the table.

Since VAs are professional entrepreneurs, they are quite versed in business operations, marketing, bookkeeping, etc.  As Danielle points out in her blog post, a Virtual Assistant can help you move your business forward.  This is a very valuable skill to any entrepreneur and small business owner.

The qualifications and skills that virtual assistants possess as a professional enable them to be experts in their fields, as well as in their profession as an entrepreneur. You receive more than administrative support, you have someone you can consult with, bounce ideas off of, brainstorm with, as well as utilize some of their business practices.   If it works for your VA, it may work for you in your business.

These are just a few examples of the value your Virtual Assistant can bring to your business.  The benefits you reap as an entrepreneur from this type of business relationship outweighs any fees that you may perceive as being expensive.

If you choose to work with offshore virtual assistants to save a few bucks, you will not receive this type of  value-added service, mainly due to cultural differences.

I hope this helps clear up the misconceived notions that yet exist.  Feel free to post your thoughts and comments.

An interesting discussion was started on Twitter as to what is niche.  I have seen niche used to refer to a group of consumers with shared characteristics.  I have also seen niche described as a specialized service(s); for example, internet marketing.

Ten years ago, when I was in college, niche was described as a space in the market where the advertiser’s product or service will fit.  Merriam-Webster online dictionary definition is a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted.  Although marketing and advertising concepts and theories remain the same, the methods of delivery of advertising messages have changed.

These changes apparently have changed or gave new meaning to the word “niche” where now it can refer to a specialized service.  Join the discussion by posting your comment below as to what is niche to you.  I look forward to reading your thoughts.

As an entrepreneur and/or small business owner, one of the decisions you make when starting your business is which portion of the market is going to be your niche. In order to choose your niche ask yourself, “where in the market will my products or services fit?” Has a new market been created, because of changes in technology or society, which has a potential demand that is not being met? Once you have answered these questions, you have chosen your niche.

In your niche, you will find people with shared characteristics (market segment). The factors (characteristics) that determine market segments are geographic, demographic, behavioral, and psychographic (attitudinal). Your advertising message and marketing strategy will be based on these factors.

It’s ironic how people are more alike than different. The aforementioned factors will affect how a group of people will behave. We tend to be creatures of habit, which causes us to be “sitting ducks” for advertisers and marketers. We leave clues, based on our needs, wants, and mental files, that tell where we live, how we shop, what we buy, and how we spend our leisure time. The same holds true for the market segment you choose to target with your products and/or services. They will have similar needs or wants and behave in similar ways.

In the market place, there is an area or subset where your products and/or services will fit (niche). In the market place, there is a group of clients who can use your products/or services (market segment). As an entrepreneur and/or small business owner with limited advertising and marketing budget, it is important to choose a niche, as well as a segment, in the market.