The Joy of Networking

I have a new favorite book that I?d like to share with you: ?The Go Giver? by Bob Burg and John David Mann (available on Amazon). I?ve mentioned my friend Bob in other articles I?ve done on sales and marketing. ?The Go Giver? is a great, short story that truly shows the joys and benefits of networking.

Have you tried networking ? really networking? You?ve got to try it! Trust me, if you get into it you?ll have the time of your life. At Team Double-Click? we?ve always practiced networking, but more recently we?ve kicked it up a notch. We?re actively seeking value-added partners who offer services and products that will be of benefit to our clients and virtual assistants.
While this may sound like a very bland task, it?s actually a constant high and very fun. You simply can?t imagine the rush when you selflessly connect two people or two organizations that can benefit one another until you try it. Once you do, I guarantee you?ll be hooked. And that?s a huge part of networking ? simply talking to other people, finding out what they do, and then connecting them with other people who can help them with whatever ails.

Once you?ve made the connection, stand back and watch what happens. You?ll see those two entities that you connected flourish. Oh, and there?s something in it for you too. Those folks will remember you when your products or services can be of benefit to them and their network of people. As if watching two people, whom you connected, grow and flourish and help one another doesn?t make you stand in awe of the process, having those connections come back to help you later will.

So how do you make connections between other people? Listen. Listen. Listen. Listen to what your connections have to offer. Ask what makes the ideal client or the ideal solution for them. Store that information in your database and in your brain. When you talk to another contact, repeat the process. Then you play the memory game and use your outside viewpoint to see who fits with whom.
Once you?ve identified a connection between your contacts, make the introduction! Call Joe and say, ?hey Joe, I know someone who can help you out?here?s her information.? Then you call Suzie and say, ?Suzie, Joe would be a great client for you?he needs X, Y, and Z?exactly what you have to offer.? You can simply give contact information to each party or you can go one step further and set up a conference call so you can introduce them personally.
I recommend a conference call whenever possible. This gives you the opportunity to make proper introductions and give a better background on each party, which will maximize the success potential of both parties.

In a short article like this, there simply isn?t enough space to give you all the finer points of networking. What I can do though is suggest another book: ?Endless Referrals? also by Bob Burg. ?Endless Referrals? will give you dozens of great tips, like the couple above, and many how-to?s for successful networking.
So get out there and start networking and find your own networking high!

Team Double-Click?The original and still the best:? Team Double-Click?s thorough virtual assistant screening process, outstanding customer service, and innovative approach to virtual staffing has earned the company mentions and features in such esteemed media as Entrepreneur Magazine, Staff Digest, CNN Money, NBC News, and even Woman?s Day magazine.? Team Double-Click? is truly setting the standard for the virtual assistant industry.. To find out More about our virtual assistants and service click on following banner:

How You Save Money by Hiring a Virtual Assistant

Breaking Down the Costs

Being in the virtual staffing business, we at Team Double-Click? are often asked, ?why should I hire a virtual assistant and how would it benefit me?? The answer is simple: you will save money (nearly 50 percent) and time.
I don?t think it?s any secret that when an employee is in the office 40 hours a week, that they are not actually working all of those hours. They have numerous distractions a day from children and spouses calling to chatting with their coworkers. A study by Basex, a New York research firm, found that office distractions total 2.1 hours a day for the average employee – more than 10 hours and 25 percent of a regular workweek. That doesn?t even take into account the amount of time an employee spends on personal tasks at work. That is time that the employer is paying them for. With virtual staffing, you only pay for the exact amount of time your virtual employee works.

In addition, you don?t pay for office expenses such as utilities, desk, chair, computer, and the office space itself.
Then there are benefits expenses including, vacation time, sick time, and insurance coverage. With virtual staffing, the virtual employee (who is an independent contractor) is responsible for those costs. With a virtual employee, you pay for their hourly rate and reimburse for any costs incurred for the job (mailing costs, etc.)
As you can see from the charts below, hiring a virtual employee is extremely economical for your company.
Wage $15/hour x 40 hr/week = $31,200/year
Social Security (.062 x 31,200) = $1,934/year
Medicare (.0145 x 31,200) = $452/year
Workers comp (.15 x 31,200) = $4,680/year
Sick time 1 week/year = $600/year
Vacation time 2 weeks/year = $1,200/year
Health Insurance Average = $7,800/year
FUTA (.008 x 7,000) = $56/year
Cost of hiring According to Business Week = $3,270/year
Office distractions* = $8,190 per year
Office utilities $300 per month = $3,600/year
Computer Computer for the assistant = $1,000
Desk and chair Modest desk and chair = $700
Add?l phone line Phone line install & monthly charges = $1,300
Office space Moderate office $900/month = $10,800/year
Total = $73,782 per year
Or
= $35.47 per hour
*A study by Basex, a New York research firm.
Wage $24.86/hour x 30 hr/week
= $38,782/year

Social Security N/A Independent Contractor = $0
Medicare N/A Independent Contractor = $0
Workers comp N/A Independent Contractor = $0
Sick time N/A Only Pay for Time Worked = $0
Vacation time N/A Only Pay for Time Worked = $0
Health Insurance N/A Independent Contractor = $0
FUTA N/A Independent Contractor = $0
Cost of hiring Team Double-Click? requires no start up payment = $0
Office distractions* Working from home there are no office distractions = $0
Office utilities N/A Independent Contractor – they pay their own utilities = $0
Computer N/A Independent Contractor – they buy their own computer = $0
Desk and chair N/A Independent Contractor – they buy their own desk and chair = $0
Add?l phone line N/A Independent Contractor – they pay for their own phone = $0
Office space N/A working from home = $0
Total = $38,782/year
Or
$18.65/hour
*Workweek is listed as 30 hours because Team Double-Click? only charges for time worked; the Virtual Assistant would still be on call 40 hours.
When all is said and done, you spend nearly double the amount for an in-house employee than for a virtual one.
Time is money. Hire a virtual employee and save on both.

Team Double-Click?We don’t just tell you where you can find a virtual assistant. We assess your needs and match you with one of our highly-skilled and Team Double-Click? trained virtual assistants. Then we monitor and nurture that relationship so you get the most out of hiring virtually. Think of us as your virtual Human Resources department!. To find out More about our virtual assistants and service click on following banner: