I'm virtually confused

Welcome to Week 20 of my adventure of following the Start Up Version of the Grow Your Business Marketing Plan + Calendar.  In my posts, I talk about my voyage down the road of self-employment as a virtual marketing assistant, my achievements and roadblocks along the way, and I include a weekly recap at the end.

Last week, two people said to me, “Deidre, you are a virtual marketing assistant…(one person even spelled out V-I-R-T-U-A-L)…you should be Twittering!”

And they are absolutely right.  I should be Twittering.  But that still doesn’t make me want to be Twittering. 

See the problem?

I do claim to be a virtual assistant which I take to mean that I work with you virtually.  Although, I suppose it might also imply that I am hip to the virtual world (and can help you with your virtual needs).

Have you ever tried to maintain an exercise routine doing something you hate?  If you detest running, it can be very hard to maintain a running exercise routine.  But if you love, for instance, tennis, that can more easily be incorporated into your life.  Because if you like it—you’ll stick with it.

Yes, you can force yourself to run 5miles, but even if you manage to do it regularly, your heart won’t be in it.

Does the same go for marketing efforts? 

I could force myself to Twitter.  I could even (and maybe should) force myself to network more on LinkedIn.  These days, the only online networking I’m enjoying is Biznik.  But you know something?  I’m doing it regularly.  I enjoy it, I’m learning, and I’m making new connections.  I feel like I’m really getting something from it.

Am I implying that I should enjoy every bit of marketing that I do?

Yes, maybe I am.  And why shouldn’t I?

If, (and just for an example, let’s pretend they do) Twitter and cold calling produced the same results, which one would I rather do?  Cold calling, hands down.  Why?  Because it allows real-human conversation and it doesn’t make me feel like I have attention deficit disorder.

With cold calling, I feel like after each call I’ve accomplished something.  But with Twitter, I felt I was never doing enough. I’ve said it before.  I’d rather be really focused in a few directions than be half-assed in lots of directions.

So, back to the dilemma.

Can a “virtual” marketing assistant not Twitter?  Can a “virtual” marketing assistant abhor Twitter?  (I’m not discounting Twitter’s potential value for others… I’m just talking about my own personal comfort level.)

Here are my thoughts…

The idea of shifting my business has entered my head.  Most of what I do is writing and editing, and I enjoy it.  Maybe I don’t want to be a virtual marketing assistant anymore.  Maybe I want to be a marketing copywriter.  Maybe I'm not doing the word "virtual" enough justice.

OR, maybe I can continue to be a "virtual" marketing assistant, and simply be a marketing assistant who offers certain services, and does so virtually.

Either way, I should probably remove “update and maintain social networking profiles” from my services page… because truth be told… I’d rather stick a fork in my eye than maintain someone’s Twitter presence.  As they say in Ireland, it wrecks me head!

I’m stubborn, I know. 

Ah, who knows? Maybe at Week 40 I’ll be raving about Twitter.  I guess only time will tell.  But until then, please tell me what you think about my virtual Twitter dilemma?

Week 20 Recap:  Wow, it's week 20 and I'm still going.  I'm Biznik-ing, I'm calling, I'm busy with work.  Things are rocking and rolling over here. Are you still following along?  How's it going?

 

Comments

[Ginger Donnan]

My suggestion is to not take it all so seriously! I'm on twitter, linkedin, facebook, biznik but I don't check or contribute to them every day, only when I have something useful to share. The problem with these sites is when people to share too much (or too little, as in information that is only useful or entertaining to themselves).

So good for you for not twittering the obtuse!

You certainly can interpret "virtual" as "the way you communicate with your clients - virtually." But not having a twitter presence is similar to sticking your head in the sand. Hold your head up, first by just starting a profile, and see what comes your way.

[Virginia]

Don't feel bad Deidre, I'm just now beginning to think, "hmm, this biznik might be worth looking at" so you are (virtually) ahead of me!

Ginger's advice regarding twitter is good and, I've just realized, a handy policy for any new online marketing tool.

[the communicatrix]

I'm one of the biggest fans of Twitter there is, and also the first to admit it ain't for everyone.

One not-small thing to consider: if you're on Twitter in Ireland, how much can you be on Twitter with your U.S. clients? Biznik may just be a better choice b/c like email, it works asynchronously. (Wow...spellcheck didn't flag that? Amazing.)

It may be that you haven't found the right way to use it that you like, and it may be that it will never be a good fit. Either way, the important thing is connecting with people and sharing good stuff. Do that, and it doesn't matter where you do it.

[Tara]

I know exactly what you mean - Twitter doesn't really work for me and my workstyle right now; For business, I love Biznik and LinkedIn, and I enjoy Facebook to see what's going on with my friends. I also think it's great that you are giving yourself permission to take your business in a different direction and revamp what services you offer, to do that part that you enjoy the most. I feel like I need to change my focus daily! Right now, I'm just glad to have the work that keeps me busy.

[TurtleBlueBird]

When I tell people I'm making cold calls to potential clients, most are totally surprised that I would even consider such an old-fashioned approach. They're really happy they "don't have to do that."

And that's putting it mildly. One guy I got on the phone said he'd be ashamed to have to make cold calls - wasn't I ashamed? (No, I wasn't. I was ashamed for him that he would say that right out to a polite stranger but - what can I say - we live in TMI times.)

Twitter is the flavor of the day. You could try it a little bit and see if you like it. (As opposed to the cruise to Alaska a friend keeps trying to get me & my husband to go on. The friend loves cruising and loves Alaska and he's super-passionate. It would make him SO HAPPY if EVERYONE IN THE WORLD had that experience. But we know ourselves well enough to know that's not how we want to spend our vacation time/$$$.)

And that's what it comes down to - no? While there's at least one person out there who's doing every single thing (even snake charming has its devotees), any individual can only do some things. No need to feel bad about picking & choosing. What other choice do you really have?

(P.S. Since when does being a virtual assistant mean you are compelled to spend time at a virtual water-cooler like Twitter?)