Once upon a time, people grouped themselves into clubs depending on the subject – books, baseball, and movie stars’ are some examples. The common interest also became a jumping point for the club members’ to utilize and recommend their preferred service providers for home maintenance, restaurants, and vacation destinations.

With the industrial revolution, collaboration became a tool in reaching people, particularly those outside of recognized clubs and organizations. Political ties developed and information became accessible, which helped the growth of business networks. Networking expanded by leaps and bounds with the Internet’s bursting on center stage in recent times.

Networking has always been in the professional world, in the face-to-face manner, through colleagues’ office visits and going out for coffee or lunch together. Theme fairs and conferences were, and still are, bridges to meeting new people and learning about developing industry trends.

And the virtual assistance industry is no exception; it is invested in networking because of its very nature. A company whose main product is implementing tasks in an ethereal world needs a strong presence in the Internet.

Because both workforce and clients are in various locations around the world, communication is key in making the business cohesive. This network is connected by technology but more than that they are linked by the same goals in expanding and growing a business. Each one has their individual circle of professional and personal relations in end users, buyers, and suppliers connected to one another and at the same time to the world. Like a pebble thrown in a pond, the ripple effect goes outward in concentric circles but it begins in the center.

Here are some suggestions for networking to be useful to the virtual assistance business:

• Create a presence in Facebook and Twitter, two of the most popular social media platforms. Make a certain to post interesting articles regularly.
• From there, update the company e-mailing list of current and possible clients.
• Participate and join online professional groups such as LinkedIn or a virtual assistants organization. 

Much like planning a garden, networking requires tending and organization. The roses will bloom because of constant care and networking will only bear fruit in proportion to the attention it gets.

Written by Yoli P. – The Help