5. \u00a0Instant access to information \u2013 The Chamber will now be forced to provide online tools to deliver information over the Internet. The Chamber website is only one tool.\u00a0 Other tools will be reviewed over the upcoming weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n6) Back to the Roots \u2013 Chambers are community-based organizations.\u00a0 Going virtual forces Chamber staff to meet in the community they serve.\u00a0 For committees I\u2019m on at the Chamber, I\u2019d love to host meeting at my office, and expose my business to other members, and Chamber Staff.
7. \u00a0Better Community Support \u2013 Chamber Member companies have stepped forward to offer meetings spaces, phone services, internet services, web services, etc.\u00a0 In this economy grouping together to support each other ensures we all make through this recession.
I recently went to a SCORE Event titled “Secrets of Survival for Small Business in a Down Economy”.\u00a0 Keynote speaker Paul Orfalea, founder of Kinkos, stated \u201cSmall companies that group together will survive this recession\u201d.\u00a0 We all need each other to survive this economy so the pouring out of generosity by Chamber members tells me we care about our Chamber and will help the chamber thrive as they have helped our businesses thrive over the years.
<\/p>\n
DISADVANTAGES of a Virtual Business Model:<\/h2>\n
1. \u00a0Public Perception – Initial disadvantage is public perception that your organization will not be around long.\u00a0 Perceived as the \u201cbeginning of the end\u201d path.\u00a0 I prefer to think of it as the “We’ll still be here tomorrow” path, and we are making prudent decisions to ensure our service to the community.<\/span>
2. \u00a0Jean Blois Community Room –\u00a0<\/span>Bill, you were at the dedication so you know the financial and other support of many companies that made this room possible.\u00a0 In my opinion this is a big loss for the Chamber going virtual.\u00a0 Because this is not just a meeting room it would be nice if Kristen gave public recognition to all those that made this space possible.\u00a0 I spoke with Kristen Amyx earlier this week about ways to replace the physical office with online resources for Chamber Members.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>
3. \u00a0Storage \u2013 The Chamber office has been a good place to store member and community materials, including member packages, annual magazine, banners, member promotional materials etc.\u00a0 Since the world is moving to communicating through the Web and away from print, the impact of a virtual office will force the Chamber to seek better online ways to manage membership, communicate with members and promote members to the community.<\/span>
<\/p>\nCHALANGES of a Virtual Business Model:<\/h2>\n
1. \u00a0Permanent or Temporary \u2013\u00a0The Chamber staff needs to ask themself the question,\u00a0 is this a temporary condition?\u00a0 Are you looking forward to the day you can return to an office?\u00a0\u00a0If they\u00a0embrase the virtual model as a new, better, way of conducting business, I believe they will be successful and continue to be a valuable resource to our community.\u00a0<\/span>
I\u2019m not saying having an office is bad. I am saying embracing a full or partial virtual business model cost much LESS, is more efficient and promotes more Chamber\/Member interaction and opportunity.<\/span>
2. \u00a0How will the Chamber compensate staff for using their personal resources (office, electric, Internet, storage, car, etc) when working virtual?<\/span>
3. \u00a0How will going virtual effect the Chamber\u2019s ability to raise money?<\/span>
\u00a0 a.\u00a0Personally I think there may be some initial holding back of member advertising but as long as the Chamber continues to host events and provide measureable exposure of member businesses to other members and the community, I don\u2019t see any long-term impact.<\/span>
4. \u00a0Where will Staff and member committees meeting?<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0With good online communication tools, staff will not need to meet face-to-face very often.\u00a0 Member committees will meet at each other\u2019s offices or homes.\u00a0 It\u2019s a great way to learn more about the members you are working with.<\/span>
<\/p>\nWHAT TO CONSIDER if you are thining about going Virtual?:<\/h2>\n1. \u00a0How to virtually access the computer files needed by all staff?<\/h3>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0Answer: Use of FTP Servers or remote access software, like GoToMeeting.com from Citrix.<\/span>
<\/p>\n2. \u00a0How will staff stay connected and keep informed about the business events of other staff?<\/h3>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0Choose an online Calendar system that allows all staff to view their own calendar, and optionally view a group calendar.\u00a0 Google offers a no cost and low cost solution.<\/span>
<\/p>\n3. \u00a0How will the company phone system work if there is no office?<\/h3>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0There are many options.\u00a0 Ameravant uses a Voice over IP phone system.\u00a0 Each phone has its own extension and dedicated phone number.\u00a0 We can connect our phones to any Internet connection in the world.\u00a0 We can transfer calls to other phones in remote locations, quickly dial other staff extensions, hold conferences and check voice mail. COX offers a good solution for virtual office phone systems.<\/span>
<\/p>\n4. \u00a0How to overcome the public stigma going virtual means you are on your way to going out of business?<\/h3>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0Be open with your customers and give them tangible evidence you will be there to provide service.<\/span>
<\/p>\n5)\u00a0How to break the news to your staff?<\/h3>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0a.\u00a0This kind of news can empower some staff to be more committed to the company or it can make them insecure about their job security, causing them to look for other employment.\u00a0 At Ameravant when one staff member left, we realized a net cost savings, so to ensure remaining Sr. staff were motivated I gave a pay raise. It was a win\/win for everyone!<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0 b.\u00a0Be honest about the financial condition of the company and how being virtual will not only ensure staff will have a job but provide better tools for staff and client communication.\u00a0<\/span>
<\/p>\n6. \u00a0What to do with your office furniture?<\/h3>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0Get rid if it!\u00a0 Don\u2019t store it.\u00a0 If going virtual is a better solution for your company, sell your office futurnature. The cost of storage can quickly catch up to the low value of used office furniture.<\/span>
<\/p>\n7. \u00a0How much does it cost to be virtual?<\/h3>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 a. \u00a0After the cost of closing the office, the ongoing costs are minimal.\u00a0 Many costs are monthly services fees for phone, remote access software, online collaboration tools, etc.<\/span>
<\/p>\n8. \u00a0How is bookkeeping and HR information shared among multiple people?<\/h3>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0Intuit now has QuickBooks Online.\u00a0 It\u2019s a fantastic service for a low monthly fee. Multiple can access information at the same time.\u00a0 There are separate User Roles so the owner may see everything but staff may only be able to post their work hours or product sales.<\/span>
<\/p>\n9.\u00a0 How do you have a virtual business model and feel like you are not working alone?<\/h3>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0At Ameravant we all subscribe to the AOL Instant Messenger \u201cIM\u201d.\u00a0 We can see when each of us is working on our computers.\u00a0 If a staff has not been active on their computer for more than a few minutes the IM reports they are away from their computer.\u00a0 Between Instant Messages, shared calendars, collaboration tools, and Email, we are in constant communication.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Today\u00a0Goleta Chamber of Commerce\u00a0is closing their brick-and-mortar office and changing to a virtual business model.\u00a0 A small handful of companes are making this virtual model possible, including\u00a0Ameravant Web Studio.If ou are consdering a virtual business model, The Pros, Cons, Chalanges and How To’s listed below will be a good aid. ADVANTAGES of a Virtual Business […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ameravant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250134"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ameravant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ameravant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ameravant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ameravant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=250134"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ameravant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250134\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ameravant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=250134"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ameravant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=250134"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ameravant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=250134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}