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About the Virtual Assistant industry for VAs and for clients

Monthly Archives: September 2009

Has anyone worked with a Virtual Assistant? Part 8

logoblueAnother in our series of VA client interviews.  This time we’re delighted to have Camille Valvo of Professional Speaking with us.  Camille’s VA is a member of the “A Clayton’s Secretary” team.

Please tell my readers a bit about who you are and what you do.

I am unique event insurance as a professional MC, corporate facilitator and speaking coach. I eliminate stress for event organizers as their ‘professional up front’ and for speakers who need a little or a lot of help delivering their message.

I was born in the US, educated in Japan (speak Japanese fluently) and have lived in Sydney for over 20 years.

When did you realize you needed admin support for your business?

When I was getting behind in the admin tasks  and wanted to take on a few new projects

What type of support did you originally obtain?

Initially it was with formatting documents, collating articles, etc

Is the support you receive today the same as then or has that changed and if so, how?

My VA has been outstanding and anything I have inquired about, she has found the information for me or learned about it to assist me. So since our first meeting, we have worked through many different types of projects and I have met with her face to face to brainstorm ideas for my business. She has shared systems and ideas to simplify the way I work.

Do you have more than one VA supporting you, and if so, perhaps you’d like to give a brief idea what the difference is?

No just one, but she finds a way to assist me in all areas whether it is a referral to another source or a link for information.

How did you find out about this type of support?

Through another one of her raving fans (clients!)

How long have you had your current VA? (Feel free to name who they are)

I have been working with Monika Newman for about 2 years

Anything else you’d like to share?

Out of the blue, I often receive information/opportunities from Monika that are beneficial to me; she always has my business top of mind, which is great as it’s difficult to work on and in the business, all the time.

She is inspiring because she remains inspired. Monika is a keen learner, attending workshops and seminars on a variety of topics, to pick up new ideas and tips whether it’s of a general nature or within the VA support genre. Not only does this help her in her VA role, but she is great company too!

Introducing Australian VA Conference

I’m thrilled to announce that the Australian Virtual Assistant Conference is going to take place on Friday 12th and Saturday 14th March, 2010 in Melbourne.

While it’s called The ‘Australian’ VA Conference it doesn’t mean you can’t come if you’re not Australian. It simply means it is being run in Australia and everyone is invited.

It’s been in the planning for several months and the venue is now confirmed, accommodation organised for those who need it, and airport transfers. Some speakers have been confirmed and others approached.

My great long-term friend and associate, Anita Kilkenny, is assisting me in the planning and we welcome your comments and feedback, as well as your encouragement for this event. We hope to see you there!

Do I need a business name?

That’s a question I see asked at VA forums often, or a variation on it, asking for suggestions on business names.  However, do you really need one?

If you don’t have a focus, i.e. have no idea what your specific service offerings may be at the start and you’re just feeling your way, then a business name may not be necessary.

It’s probably best to work under your own name till you have some idea.  Why?  Because when you register a name that’s just the beginning and there are a number of expenses that will be incurred such as:

  • Domain name
  • Business cards
  • Letterhead
  • With comp slips
  • Logo
  • Possibly invoicing paper and other items

If you find your focus a bit later on then you may find the name you’ve chosen isn’t suitable or doesn’t reflect it properly.  And once you do have a ‘niche’ or ‘focus’ a name may come naturally to you.

There’s nothing to say you have to have a business name when starting out and if you check with your accountant I’m sure you’ll find you can operate legally under your own name. You can even purchase a domain for your own name and use that for now.

Spelling – doesn’t it matter any more?

I can’t get over the number of VA forums I belong to where members don’t appear to check what they’ve typed before publishing it to the (board) forum.  Or make use of the Edit function for corrections.

Or, do they think that in a closed community it really doesn’t matter?  If that’s the case, I beg to differ.

Many VAs outsource to other VAs and the way you present yourself in the typed word is the very first impression others get of your abilities.

How often do we see typed VA’s instead of VAs when writing in the plural?

And what about there being used when it should be their if speaking of the possessive?

Do you know the difference between lose and loose?

spellingThere are many more I see almost daily and it makes me wonder if spelling (and grammar) was being taught in school when these individuals attended?  It’s beginning to look like it wasn’t.

If you do something often enough it becomes habitual – and if that thing is a ‘bad habit’ it is going to spill over into your working life too.  Make good spelling and good grammar a daily good habit and you won’t struggle when looking after clients who need you to be accurate in these things.  It will actually make your job and your day much easier.

Do it yourself or…?

On the VA forums I often see new VAs asking about whether they should design their own logo or pay someone else to do it, design their own website or pay someone else to do it, and so on.

I know they are new and probably not earning much yet but what price is your business worth to you?  If something looks home made or unprofessional that is going to reflect on your business – people will view your abilities by what they can see and assume that the rest of your abilities are as mediocre.

But let’s look at it another way:

What if the people you are trying to secure as clients decided they would ‘do it themselves’ although you know full well you would do a better job and they would be able to spend that time making money doing what they do best?  How would you try to convince them or demonstrate to them that it was worth investing in their business by engaging you as a VA?

mmm, I thought so.  The same applies to you.  If you do not have the skillset to do something for your own business then engage someone else who has.  Spend the time you would have on that job, doing work for a client or something else in your business that you are equipped to do.

And remember that any expenses incurred for your business is a taxable item.

Why don’t you do what you do best and delegate the rest? It’s worth it!