<p><strong>As a business professional, are you thinking of hiring a <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/virtual-assistant/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Virtual Assistant" >virtual assistant</a> to help you enter the world of <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/social-marketing/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with social marketing" >Social Marketing</a>?</strong></p><p>Earlier this week <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/mari-smith/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with mari smith" >Mari Smith</a> and I had an absolutely wonderful and eye-opening conversation about the relationship between a business professional and their <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/virtual-assistant/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Virtual Assistant" >virtual assistant</a> when it comes to Social Media Marketing. Mari is not only a fantastic <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/facebook/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with facebook" >Facebook</a> coach and guru, but she also utilizes a <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/virtual-assistant/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Virtual Assistant" >virtual assistant</a> to help her with her own <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/social-marketing/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with social marketing" >social marketing</a> strategies and provides us with the business professional’s point of view. Invaluable stuff here! Check out the audio of our conversation below</p><p>We discussed how important it is that the <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/virtual-assistant/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Virtual Assistant" >virtual assistant</a> and the business professional work together to determine what the <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/virtual-assistant/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Virtual Assistant" >virtual assistant</a> will be doing for them, and what they’ll be handling themself. This 2-way communication is the foundation to a successful business relationship. It’s a team effort.</p><p>Yes, it’s true. The business professional will need to have a hands-on approach on certain things, which Mari and I discuss in detail during our conversation. Without both parties working together on the <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/social-marketing/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with social marketing" >social marketing</a> strategy, it is doomed to fail. Or in the least, it will not be as successful and productive as you had hoped.</p><p>Another point that was so obvious during our conversation was the fact that the <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/virtual-assistant/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Virtual Assistant" >virtual assistant</a> MUST have some personal experience within the various social networks. That’s why, as a <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/virtual-assistant/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Virtual Assistant" >virtual assistant</a>, you really need to get a bit of training and dig into them yourself. Your clients are counting on you to be their guiding light. You don’t have to be an expert, just experienced.</p><p>The key topics we discussed were:<br /> 1) Things a <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/virtual-assistant/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Virtual Assistant" >virtual assistant</a> can definately do on behalf their client.<br /> 2) Things a <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/virtual-assistant/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Virtual Assistant" >virtual assistant</a> most definately SHOULD NOT do on behalf of their client.<br /> 3) Things that COULD be done by a <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/virtual-assistant/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Virtual Assistant" >virtual assistant</a> on behalf of their client, based upon the relationship between the VA and client, and how well they know them.</p><p>Our conversation was so engaging, an hour went by in a flash. It took twists and turns and new ideas unfolded on-the-fly. There are many other aspects of this topic and ideas to discuss that Mari and I both agree we’ll be continuing our discussion at a later date.</p><p>As a Relationship Specialist, Internet Marketing Consultant, and <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/facebook/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with facebook" >Facebook</a> Coach, Mari is a wealth of information and inspiration to us all on how to effectively and properly interact with each other in our internet relationships. She is a joy to speak with and a truly genuine person.</p><p>You can find out more about Mari’s expertise, programs, and services at:<br /><a href="http://www.marismith.com" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.marismith.com');">www.marismith.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.whyfacebook.com" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.whyfacebook.com');">www.whyfacebook.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook4pros.com" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.facebook4pros.com');">www.facebook4pros.com</a></p><p>Looking for a <a href="http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/tag/virtual-assistant/" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Virtual Assistant" >virtual assistant</a>? Check out these resources and submit an RFP (Request for Proposal):</p><p>IVAA: <a href="http://www.ivaa.org" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.ivaa.org');">www.ivaa.org</a></p><p>VANetworking: <a href="http://www.vanetworking.com" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.vanetworking.com');">www.vanetworking.com</a></p><p>Check out the audio of our conversation below.</p><p>Andrea<br /> Andrea Kalli Virtual Trainer and Assistant, LLC<br /><a href="http://www.virtualassist.net" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.virtualassist.net');">www.virtualassist.net</a></p><br/><a href="http://www.socialmarker.com/?link=http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/2008/08/20/create-a-social-marketing-team-business-professionals-and-virtual-assistants/&title=Create+a+Social+Marketing+Team+-+Business+Professionals+and+Virtual+Assistants&text=As+a+business+professional%2C+are+you+thinking+of+hiring+a+virtual+assistant+to+help+you+enter+the+world+of+Social+Marketing%3F&tags=virtual+assistant%2C+our+conversation%2C+virtual%2C+assistant%2C+conversation%2C+business%2C+their%2C+social" target="_blank" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.socialmarker.com/?link=http://www.productivitypodcast.com/businesspodcast/2008/08/20/create-a-social-marketing-team-business-professionals-and-virtual-assistants/&title=Create+a+Social+Marketing+Team+-+Business+Professionals+and+Virtual+Assistants&text=As+a+business+professional%2C+are+you+thinking+of+hiring+a+virtual+assistant+to+help+you+enter+the+world+of+Social+Marketing%3F&tags=virtual+assistant%2C+our+conversation%2C+virtual%2C+assistant%2C+conversation%2C+business%2C+their%2C+social');"><img src= "http://www.socialmarker.com/bookmark.gif" border="0" /></a><noscript><a href="http://www.socialmarker.com" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackVisit('/outbound/article/http://www.socialmarker.com');">Social Bookmarking</a></noscript><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/BusinessProductivityTechniquesToolsAndIdeas?a=aMq4nK"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/BusinessProductivityTechniquesToolsAndIdeas?i=aMq4nK" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/BusinessProductivityTechniquesToolsAndIdeas?a=6wnpVK"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/BusinessProductivityTechniquesToolsAndIdeas?i=6wnpVK" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/BusinessProductivityTechniquesToolsAndIdeas?a=mrdUwK"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/BusinessProductivityTechniquesToolsAndIdeas?i=mrdUwK" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/BusinessProductivityTechniquesToolsAndIdeas?a=u76a4k"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/BusinessProductivityTechniquesToolsAndIdeas?i=u76a4k" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/BusinessProductivityTechniquesToolsAndIdeas?a=IFOTrK"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/BusinessProductivityTechniquesToolsAndIdeas?i=IFOTrK" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/BusinessProductivityTechniquesToolsAndIdeas?a=8YsfPk"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/BusinessProductivityTechniquesToolsAndIdeas?i=8YsfPk" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/BusinessProductivityTechniquesToolsAndIdeas?a=EZNCvK"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/BusinessProductivityTechniquesToolsAndIdeas?i=EZNCvK" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BusinessProductivityTechniquesToolsAndIdeas/~4/370155482" height="1" width="1"/>