Over the years, my role shifted from professional organizer/career consultant, to professional organizer/virtual assistant, to virtual assistant/professional organizer, before I finally decided to focus on being a virtual assistant to professional organizers. Some of the benefits I now enjoy include less driving, more flexibility in my schedule, and access to a much broader client base.
When I was a professional organizer/virtual assistant, it occurred to me that virtual organizing would be an excellent fit for my business. I supported two or three clients via email and instant messenger, but I just couldn’t figure out how to develop the idea into a service that I was comfortable promoting. Since then, the concept of virtual organizing has become much more common, and we’re even starting to see programs designed to help you develop an online business model.
With her husband in the military, Carmen Coker began offering virtual organizing services as a way to deal with the challenge of having to re-establish her clientele every time she relocated. She now helps her clients get organized by providing information products, teleclasses, and one-on-one consultations via the phone and web, so frequent moves no longer pose a major threat to her business.
Realizing that other professional organizers could profit from her experience and from networking with other virtual organizers, Carmen has established the International Association of Virtual Organizers (IAVO). IAVO members have access to a number of benefits, including teleseminars, a monthly newsletter focused on the virtual organizing industry, and a private forum.
Virtual organizers can take advantage of many of the same perks as virtual assistants, such as greater flexibility, an increased number of potential clients, spending less time and money on travel expenses, and not having to invest as much in a working wardrobe. In addition, I can see that becoming established as a virtual organizer would be a great advantage if at some point you become unable to, or no longer wish to, perform the physical work involved with hands-on organizing.
For more information about virtual organizing, visit the IAVO website and request a free copy of the 7 Secrets to Virtual Organizing Success. If you can make it, Carmen is also offering a free teleseminar on Wednesday, May 19 called 3 Simple, Low-Cost Virtual Organizing Products and Services that Will Boost Your Biz – Fast!
Have you tried organizing virtually? What do you like or dislike about it?
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If you missed the free teleclass yesterday, you can download the recording by visiting the IAVO website.
.-= Janet Barclay´s last blog ..Ten Types of Tweets =-.
Thanks for tweeting this; as a relative newcomer to your site, I’m getting lots of value from catching up on older topics…
Until recently, I would have thought virtual organizing would be an uphill climb. However, in the last few weeks I’ve been working a lot with my Dad via Skype (mainly on computer issues) and I’ve been amazed at what we’ve been able to accomplish, 5000 miles apart.
With photos, or better still, a webcam, this could totally work.
Read The English Organizer’s post: The Five-Minute Meaningful Gesture
Technology sure has opened up a lot of doors. Only ten years ago, if someone had told me I’d be working full-time on the Internet, developing “blogs” and using “social media” to grow my network, I’d have thought I was dreaming!
Read Janet Barclay’s post: Ask or Answer Questions and Grow Your Network