I don’t know about you, but I want to go to camp this summer. It’s not just for the kids anymore! VAClassroom has just announced their first Summer Skill Camp – a way to learn 10 new skills in 10 weeks, skills such as article writing, Facebook marketing and WordPress development.

Many of my friends and readers know that I LOVE VAClassroom and all that Craig Cannings and the gang have to offer. They have quality training programs for our Virtual Assistant industry, a few of which I have taken myself. So I registered and I am really excited to attend the Summer Skill Camp 2010, which starts July 6th. I’m always looking to sharpen my skills and learn something new.

So what are we going to learn in this 10 week summer camp?

• Develop the right system to creating a profitable, in-demand Facebook Page Service.
• Receive an easy-to-follow blueprint for building an effective online newsletter or ezine.
• Discover proven techniques for designing a winning WordPress Blog.
• Uncover and implement the right kind of WordPress plugins to ignite traffic and results for you and your clients.
• Learn how to leverage a freebie offer or information product to attract and win new clients.
• Discover a simple formula for crafting and delivering top-notch social media presentations to your clients and community.
• Master a proven system for seamlessly organizing your many social networking activities.
• Learn how to effectively measure your client’s Internet Marketing results and success.
• Receive an easy formula for writing articles and press releases that produce results.
• Develop a winning squeeze page or landing page that converts for you or your clients.

So doesn’t that all sound great? Plus Craig is offering several bonuses as well with this fantastic program. And there’s an Early Bird discount if you sign up before June 3oth. Use the promo code SUMMER by 6/30 and get $100 off of your registration fee.

So join me there and lets go to camp together. Sign up at this link – http://tinyurl.com/282wkrp

See you there!

Recently, someone had commented in another network on this recent post, that provoked a few thoughts in my mind. They suggested that perhaps some of the in-person networking tactics were better suited to those in larger cities where they appear to be more willing to pay more for an independent contractor.

Now, this is just my humble opinion, but I think it is a little bit of a misconception that in-person networking or marketing opportunities work better for those Virtual Assistants in “larger cities” versus smaller towns. Not everyone probably agrees with me, but I base it off my own experience.

When I started my VA business 4 years ago, I was living in a VERY small town in the middle of New Mexico. And since I had a very low budget starting out (ok, more like no budget), by using some of the in-person networking opportunities (suggested in my post) and connections I had locally, the majority of my clients came from that very small town. I didn’t even have a website yet! Some of those clients are still with me today and I have since moved many states away.

At first I was really afraid people in my small town would be apprehensive to use me because of the independent contractor rates I was charging. Some people did balk at my rates. One prospect even told me, “I could hire the neighbor girl down the street for $8/hr…”. But I kept at it and I worked hard to demonstrate my value to them. I showed them how I can I can save them a bit of money, and how much TIME I saved them from doing these tasks for them. Prospects turned into clients, who then into raving fans, and through word of mouth I signed on more clients from that very same small town.

As an aside, that person who said could hire the “neighbor girl” for $8 an hour, did so. Just few months later they came back to me and immediately signed on as client. They realized the value of my services and learned the hard way about the old saying “you get what you pay for”. They became one of my biggest fans and sent me many referrals.

Again, I base all this off of my own experience coming from a small town. Perhaps it is because I have narrowed down a niche (real estate). Some networking or marketing tactics may not work for every business, every niche, or every area. But I don’t think you should let the size of your city, township, county, etc, limit your marketing possibilities.

So I guess I what I am saying is from my own experience, I have found that in-person networking can help build your business whether you’re in a large city or small town. So I don’t you should totally count it out.

I would love to hear anyone else chime in and let me know what you think.