Hello Online Marketers! This week's interview is with Kathy McHenry and her business Your Virtual Advantage, LLC. This is one very focused woman who knows what she's doing! She sure knows her niche market well and has some great ideas on how to promote your business.
KB: Kathy McHenry thank you for taking the time to
participate in this interview for our readers.
To set the stage for this interview, would you please tell us a bit about
yourself?
KM: I’m
originally from North Dakota; relocated to the DC
area for my husband’s job. I have two
beautiful daughters, Jamie 24 & Brandi 22.
My two poodles (the boys) keep me company now that the girls are on
their own. I love cooking, reading, and
working. I’m
currently developing a delicious pastry that I want to market to specialty
stores.
KB: I bet that was a big move for you
Kathy. So, you love dogs too – great!
Your pastry sounds very interesting!!
Okay, give us your elevator speech,
or 30-second spiel, about what you do, about your business:
KM: I am a virtual
assistant. I support successful
entrepreneurs and small business owners who don’t have the time or inclination
o do the administrative part of their business.
For instance, did you know that the majority of small businesses lose
62% of sales because they don’t follow up?
What I do is handle your contact list and help with your follow-up so
you don’t lose that 62%. While I’m doing
that, you can be focusing on increasing your sales.
KB: That sounds like a plan Kathy. How
long have you been in business for yourself?
KM: I
started my business in May 2001.
KB: So, why or what was the determining factor for you in starting your own
business?
KM: I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Always looking to be my own boss. When I found AssistU, I found what had been
missing all those years.
KB: I know EXACTLY what you mean! What, in your experience, has been the
greatest benefit in running and owning your own business? What do you like best
about your business?
KM: The
commute - I went from 45 minutes each way (on a good day), to 3 seconds to my
home office. The thing I like the best
is that I work when I want to. If I feel
like working at 2 am, I do it.
KB: It is great having but to walk into your office right from another room in
your home, isn’t it? Running a business
takes a certain “mindset” so tell us what is the most difficult or challenging
part of having and running your own business:
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KM: Getting
up from my desk. I tend to work until
it’s done.
KB: Oh, I completely understand
that! Who is your primary target audience? How do you attract them?
KM: My
clients are successful entrepreneurs and small business owners who don’t have
the space or the time to train an assistant.
I get my clients from referrals, networking, & news stories.
KB: Those seem to be the absolutely
BEST ways to gain new clients Kathy.
Is your business primarily online
or offline or both? If offline, do you have a website?
KM: I am
strictly on-line. With the tools
available today I can work with clients anywhere in the world. My web site www.YourVirtualAdvantage.com
is used to
attract clients and to collect subscribers for my newsletter.
KB: Since we’re are having this interview on the
International Virtual Women’s Chamber of Commerce channel, we know you are a
member of this organization but are you a member of any other professional
organizations?
KM: Yes, I
belong to the AssistU community, eWomenNetwork, Prince William Association of
Realtors, Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors, REVA Network,
Southeastern Virtual Assistant Group, Self-Employed Women.com, and several Ryze
groups.
KB: You sure seem to have
“networking” down to a science Kathy.
On average, how often do you visit
those networks? Do you post messages there regularly, or are you more of an
information seeker and lurker?
KM: I try
to get to most of them each morning. If
I can answer a question or help in any way, I will respond to a post. I try to give more than I take.
KB: You definitely know how to
network! Moving onto a very vital
subject in online business, on average, how many email messages do you receive
every day?
KM: Roughly
30.
KB: Oh that is not bad at all – great in fact! About how many of those emails
are actually email you either requested, from clients, or pertinent
information?
KM: LOL,
maybe 15.
KB: Still, do you know what a
blessing it is to not have hundreds, lol!
What is your number one complaint, if any,
about email? ...and how do you think it could be resolved?
KM: SPAM,
no shock there. I use filters to cut
down on spam. I tell my clients that
they should register for a free email account and use that when they are doing
anything online that requires them to give their email address. That way the junk goes to the free account
and their business account stays fairly spam free. Of course you have to monitor your free
account to keep it active.
KB: What great advice. I should
remember that Kathy, because I do have a free email address I never remember to
use, lol!
Do you publish a newsletter /
ezine?
KM: Yes,
my newsletter is called Distant Assistant and is published monthly using e-zine
director. The purpose is to offer
beneficial information that my list may not have time to search out.
KB: That’s great and I’ve heard nothing but good
things about Ezine Director.
How about generating new
subscribers? How do you do that or is that even a consideration in your type of
newsletter?
KM: People
subscribe from my web site.
KB: You keep it simple Kathy and I really like that. Do you subscribe to any newsletters? If
so, what is the delivery format?
KM: I
subscribe to so many I couldn’t even give you a count. Reading newsletters is the first thing I do
each morning. I’ve subscribed to them
because they offer me a great deal of information. I particularly look for marketing ideas; but
I also receive technical newsletters so I can pass any important information on
to my clients. They all come via email.
KB: I know the feeling because I
subscribe to a LOT myself. Like you I also read them for information on marketing and
technical. Are you familiar with RSS?
KM: No
KB: He, well you actually are now since you’re being interviewed here on this
RSS channel.
Do you read or subscribe to any RSS
feeds/blogs?
KM: I do
read a couple blogs.
KB: That’s great. Just so you can say you are
subscribed to an RSS channel, here’s the link for the IVWCC RSS channel http://quikonnex.com/channel/quiksteps/ivwcc
There are so many ways to promote
ourselves online and off, and one of the most touted and apparently great ways
to do so online is to write articles. Do you write articles for use on the internet?
If so, describe the typical subject
you cover and tell us how you promote and distribute it?
KM: Yes, I
do write articles. I write for my
newsletter and some groups I belong to.
My topics vary, I want to give information that will help small business
owners. For instance, my neighbor’s
house burned down last week and my home received some exterior damage. There was a time that I thought my house
might be destroyed. I went back in to
get my dogs and my purse. Not once did I
think about what I had in my office. My
topic was back-up and recovery. Mostly
just my story and the importance of a recovery plan.
KB: Oh my gosh, how awful for your
neighbor but I’m glad you’re okay. For the record, I would’ve gone for my purse
and my dog too! Things like that have a
tendency to get us thinking on things like “back-up and recovery” though, don’t
they?
Have you ever submitted a press
release? How has that worked for you?
KM: Yes,
just recently I submitted one to my local paper and it resulted in a front page
story about my business, which resulted in a new client.
KB: Wow, congratulations! Front
page? Wow!
Kathy, if you could offer a word of
advice to someone wishing to start a business in
your field, what would you tell them?
KM: Get some
legitimate training, I recommend www.assistu.com.
They offer everything you need to become a virtual assistant.
Kathy, thank you again for taking
the time to participate in this interview.
============= End==============
Interview with Kathy McHenry
Kathy McHenry
Your Virtual Advantage, LLC
(540) 834-4185 phone
(540) 834-4189 fax
Kathy@your-va.com
www.YourVirtualAdvantage.com
http://www.your-va.com/newsletter.htm
Sign up for my newsletter.
http://www.tastefullysimple.com/web/kmchenry
I appreciate your
mentions in your email news groups
and referring me to successful friends and associates
who may benefit from working with a VA. Thank you!
Interview conducted by Kim Bloomer of Kick The Email Habit. Kim Bloomer and Cathy Carlton of Kick The Email Habit built and maintain the RSS channel for the International Virtual Women's Chamber of Commerce.
