I am a big fan (if you can call it that) of referrals when it comes to working with someone virtually. Most of my clients are referred to me by former or current clients. Its also a mutually benefical process because it gives each person an idea of what to expect from the other if they do get into a work relationship.

Its also one of the best (and least expensive!) forms of marketing you can do. There’s no trick to it, it doesn’t cost anything, you don’t have to worry about niches and target markets. All you have to do is a good job and clients or colleagues will gladly pass your name on to others.

Now with all of this talk of recession, the economy, and stimulus packages, many people are taking control of their careers and launching their own businesses. And they’re discovering that advertising and marketing can be time consuming and expensive.

Here’s a way we can all help each other out:

Make a Referral Week

From their website:

Make a Referral Week is an entrepreneurial approach to stimulating the small business economy one referred business at a time. The goal for the week is to generate 1000 referred leads to 1000 deserving small businesses in an effort to highlight the impact of a simple action that could blossom into millions of dollars in new business. Small business is the lifeblood and job-creating engine of the economy and merits the positive attention so often saved for corporate bailout stories.

And here’s how you can help…visit the Make a Referral Week website and sign the pledge to make at least one referral between March 9th and March 13th and then return to the site and tell them about the referral you made.

Its as simple as that. Of course, you don’t have to limit yourself to just one referral nor do you have to limit it to just this one week. But its a good start.

Earlier this week I was thrilled to find out that I was awarded the Virtual Assistant Blog of the Week award from VA Networking. This is such an honor for me because of my admiration and respect for the VA Networking Group and I’m proud to be a part of it. My business was also featured on Virtual Rave as a result.

With the evolution of the Internet and “Web 2.0″, social networking has become a major business marketing tool. Whatever your profession may be, you can find a way to make online networking work for you. But most business owners don’t have the time to invest in networking on the Internet. This is another service that I offer through my business, Advantage Virtual Assistant. We can register your information, set up accounts and profiles, and manage your messages on various networking groups, including LinkedIn and Facebook as well as industry-specific sites and services.

An online Networking group is where you are joined with success-minded people as well as coaches who provide resources and directly answer your questions.

In a good Networking group, you’ll find people who take their business seriously. Think about it. If  the other members are willing to invest money to be there, you know they want to learn. Their business is not treated as a hobby. The members are dedicated to their businesses and work hard to achieve success.

How can an online Networking group benefit you? As you may know, in sports, having a good coach will increase your chances of success. Also, the players on your team can make or break your game. If you play on a team with players who are mediocre, your game will remain mediocre. If you join a team with better players who take the game seriously and you add a a great coach, your game will improve as well — significantly.

How do you choose a quality networking group? There are several key factors to deciding if a networking  group is worth your time and effort. I’ll use Shelancers as an example, as I feel it offers a great deal to any Service Provider.

1. The leaders
Do they know what they’re talking about? What are their qualifications? A good group will be led by experts in their field, by leaders who have experience in the topic and know how to share that information in a clear, concise manner. They are not afraid to share their success and are confident in themselves to be able to lead others to succeed as well.

2. The Resources
Most Networking groups offer resources that are only available to their members. These may be interviews with experts, ebooks, audio and video teleseminars, and software. Take a good look at the resources available. Oftentimes the resources alone are worth many times the price of the membership.

Shelancers offers step-by-step resources that are focused on their members’ needs, not just general marketing material.

3. The Forum
A good Networking group will include a forum where you can brainstorm and build relationships with other members. This is where you’ll get specific and applied help. The coaches or leaders should also have a very visible presence on the board, personally answering questions and giving guidance.

4. Additional bonuses
If the group offers additional bonuses, it’s worth checking out. For instance, Shelancers includes free advertising in the members’ directory.

5. Affordable Price.

You’re on a budget. (Aren’t we all?) So, spend your money wisely and find a group that is affordable. Where do you go from here? It’s simple. Enroll and decide for yourself whether a membership in the group will  boost your business. It’s the best way to find out what goes on behind closed doors.

So, yes, there are great free forums online and valuable free resources. But, if you want to improve your game, then find the best coaches and jump into the game with a team who can take you to to the top.

Check out Shelancers today at Shelancers.com.