The Savvy Entrepreneur

Here’s the case of a virtual office assistant who recently took the plunge and claimed her unique space in the VA world.
This is how Tina M. Hilton worded it on her blog:
As of May 1,2009, Clerical Advantage will no longer be considered a ‘generalist’ virtual assistant company, but will focus on providing services to Business [...]

In 2002 when I quit my job to work from home, I started a virtual assistant business.  Three years later, I knew it was time for a change.
I realized that my strengths didn’t lie in doing administrative tasks. What really jazzed me was helping clients come up with ideas to grow their business.
It was only [...]

I’m a major sucker for reality shows like CBC-TV’s Dragons’ Den, a show where entrepreneurs pitch a panel of five potential investors, for a stake in their company. I guess I like to live vicariously through the Dragons’ who get to tell awesome entrepreneurs how great their idea is, and tear into the ones that [...]

There is a difference between conceit and confidence. Conceit is bragging about yourself. Confidence means you believe you can get the job done. — Johnny Unitas
If you want to get the business, you must instill this kind of confidence in your potential clients. In order to instill it in others, it must first be inside [...]

An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field. — Niels Bohr
Kinda makes you feel better, doesn’t it?

Have you come up with your Only Statement yet? With a little help (OK, a LOT of help) from A.C. Riley, this is what we came up with for mine:
Cristina Favreau is the only coach daring business owners to make their marketing personal. See what makes you tick.
What do you think? What challenges are you [...]

I have to admit… I’ve been in a marketing slump lately. It feels like everything I read or hear about marketing a service-based business has been said and hashed over. I’m bored with it. So, I took a break from reading or listening to anything related to marketing.
Then this cold that has been hanging on [...]

Last week, I posted a call for help to a few VA online groups I’m on. I needed assistance with an important, detailed, last minute and complicated RFP for a client.
Most replies were professional. There were those who offered advice and even provided outlines and templates, while others submitted formal service quotes.
A few replies, however, [...]

As longtime member of the Virtual Business Group (free annual membership in 2008), one of the perks is its Book Club — a benefit I hadn’t taken advantage of until late last year. Boy, am I glad to be participating in this months’ activities, since we’re discussing Marcus Buckingham’s Go Put Your Strengths to Work: [...]

Don’t mistake your Ideal Client with your Target or Niche Market. They may share some similarities, but the differences are important enough to make a distinction.
Michael Port describes your ideal client in “Book Yourself Solid” this way (page 16):
Your ideal clients are a subset of the target market you choose to serve. It is just [...]

What’s the difference between a Target Market and Niche Market?
I get this question a lot. It’s a question I’ve been asked a lot lately, so I thought I’d clarify my opinion here.
A Target Market and Niche Market are the same but different in their own way. They are the same in that these terms are [...]

Have you chosen your niche yet (however you want to pronounce it)? When I first started my coaching practice, it felt like everyone was on my case, “What’s your niche? What’s your specialty? Who’s your target market?”. My reaction was: “I’m just starting out. How am I supposed to know? Leave me alone!” It felt [...]