Tag: educate

VA Interview: Lily Chambers, The Virtual Evolution Magazine

Posted on by Sue L Canfield

Lily and I met online at the Find Virtual website for virtual assistants. Lily recently attended a Skype call for virtual assistants and took advantage of a free coaching follow up call. I’m glad I got to know Lily better and learn more about how she is helping the virtual industry. This interview is a bit different as it focuses specifically on Lily’s TVE Magazine for virtual entrepreneurs. Enjoy!

When did you start your magazine? Tell us the story of how you got it and challenges you faced and overcame in continuing the magazine.Lily Chambers

TVE Magazine was the brainchild of Andrea Jackson, of Action Jackson VA as an ezine dedicated to assisting virtual entrepreneurs.  The first issue of TVE Magazine was published on September 15, 2009 as a monthly publication under the name of The Virtual Entrepreneur.  I came on board as the assistant editor of TVE Magazine starting with the November, 2009 issue.

During March, 2010, Ms. Jackson had a series of complicated dental surgeries and, due to the lengthy healing process, decided to stop publishing the magazine.  I took over ownership of TVE Magazine 1 week prior to the release of the April, 2010 issue.  I temporarily made TVE Magazine a bi-monthly publication starting with the April/May issue and I began to change its focus toward all entrepreneurs, not just VAs.

Shortly after obtaining ownership of TVE Magazine, I received a ‘cease and desist’ letter from Entrepreneur Media, Inc (owners of Entrepreneur Magazine) claiming that EMI owned the name “Entrepreneur” and it could no longer be part of TVE’s name.  In response, I held a ‘name-change’ contest with my readers and subsequently renamed TVE to The Virtual Evolution Magazine beginning with the June/July issue of TVE Magazine.  TVE Magazine resumed being a monthly publication effective with the October, 2010 issue.

What is the purpose of the magazine?

TVE is focused on helping entrepreneurs of every type (virtual as well as brick and mortar) get the information they need to help them strengthen and grow their business, with as few growing pains as possible!  There is a ton of information available out there so we try to not only add new information (at least 30% of each issue is devoted to new, unpublished material) but also to ‘corral’ as much of the valuable information as possible into one place – TVE Magazine.

How does your magazine help new and aspiring VAs?

We publish information to help decide whether or not being a VA/entrepreneur is the right path and we also publish articles directly related to setting up and running a business properly as well as covering questions related to marketing, client relations, social media, software that makes life easier, and anything else ‘entrepreneur related.’

How can someone contribute articles to the magazine?

Contributions to TVE Magazine are always welcome.  Either visit http://tvemagazine.com/article-submission/ or send an email directly to articles@tvemagazine.com.  We are always seeking articles that are of interest to entrepreneurs, whether it is personal experience, tips and tricks, or anything of an ‘entrepreneurial nature.’   We also accept press releases at http://tvemagazine.com/pr-submission/

How can someone subscribe to the magazine?

Subscription to TVE Magazine is always free.  Once you have ‘signed up’, you will also receive the password to the archives located at tvemagazine.com.  To subscribe, simply go to http://tvemagazine.com/subscribe/ and fill out the online form.  We promise we will never share your information to anyone outside of TVE.

Additional comments you’d like to share. Perhaps explain about the advertising rates as well.

If you are interested in advertising with TVE Magazine, there are a few options available.

A listing in the Virtual Professional Directory is only $6.00 per year, which includes 1 directory listing – additional listings are only $1/each. (both print and online)

We also offer individual ads for your business at the following rates:

1/4 page (3.5″w x 5″h) OR (7.5″w x 2.5″h) – $15.00 per issue

1/2 page (7.5″w x 5″h) – $25.00 per issue

Full page (7.5″w x 10″h) – $45.00 per issue

Or, you can be listed in the Resource Directory (1.3″ square box or 4.88″w.x.63″h banner – both print and online) as follows:

12 month listing – $90

9 month listing – $78

6 month listing – $54

3 month listing – $28

Contact Lily Chambers, The Virtual Evolution Magazine
Website – www.tvemagazine.com
Twitter – @tvemagazine

How do you respond when asked – what is a virtual assistant?

Posted on by Sue L Canfield

The virtual assistant industry is rapidly growing. However, there are many people that still have never heard of the term and do not know what a virtual assistant does. One of the goals here at Chief Virtual Officer is to educate people about what a virtual assistant can do to assist them in their business.

There are several definitions I’ve come across and yet many still do not convey to the solo professional just what a virtual assistant is and how a VA can help them in their business. Part of that may be because there are such a wide variety of tasks that virtual assistants do and some VAs only do specific tasks.

I like to try to make it as simple as possible for a prospect to understand the term virtual assistant by using terms they are familiar with. Most business people are familiar with the terms administrative assistant, executive assistant, secretary, office manager. A virtual assistant can be one or all of those things from their own office. The business person does not need to provide office space, equipment, or benefits. A virtual assistant works as an independent contractor and pays their own taxes. If the business person only needs assistance a few hours each month, a virtual assistant can provide those services and the business owner doesn’t have to pay for a part-time employee.

So, how do you respond when asked – what is a virtual assistant? I’d love to read your replies. Help us educate the world about the virtual assistant industry.