I sometimes see, in different discussion groups, new VAs announce they have their first client and then panic, because they don't have their rates sorted out, or a contract they can give out if they're working with one. Is this you? In some VA groups, in Facebook, or elsewhere, you may find they have a files list whereby you can get a sample contract or information about working out rates right for you. Or you may find that membership to a VA network will furnish you with that kind of … [Read more...]
Mature aged but not ready to retire?
My husband and I were having a discussion the other day. It was about retirement and the fact that someone we knew hadn't been able to retire because of a financial challenge that had taken place. We felt that was a shame and it probably came because of some bad financial advice. We discussed others we knew had had similar challenges in the past. In recent years the government here in Australia have made it clear they want people to work till they are 70 years of age but in some industries, … [Read more...]
New affiliate program now set up!
Some of you will remember that I asked many months ago about affiliate programs? I badly needed to find a new one as my old one was abused by fraudsters about 4 years ago. Took me sometime to realise I really needed to get it happening again. Well, finally, I bit the bullet and narrowed it down to about three over the Christmas period and have decided upon iDevAffiliate. Turns out to be a great system with videos at every step of set up. Also the support there is great and responsive … [Read more...]
MailChimp account hacked
This happened to a client of mine late last year and it was a challenging thing to get sorted and MailChimp people were wonderful, helping us through this. What happened? Someone accessed her account, uploaded over a million addresses and started to send out phishing email saying that payment was due on an invoice and the recipient's credit card was going to be charged. People began emailing and ringing my client anxious that she was going to charge their accounts for a large sum. Some were … [Read more...]
Changing address challenges
Last year I elected to shift my PO Box to a new Post Office set up near home, just 2 or 3 mins' drive. Not far away at all. The people there were friendly, unlike the previous PO I'd been with and there was easy and convenient parking. As it was a general store I was also happy to purchase items there and often popped in, even when not picking up mail, just for a cuppa and morning tea. I met with my husband there and friends as well. A lovely local community spot. Alas, the week before … [Read more...]
Working out rates right for you
This is a topic that is discussed often, at every single VA forum/group that I belong to. But it's not confined just to the VA industry, but also other industries. A business group I belong to has a member with a fairly new business and they had the same quandary - working out rates that are right for them, fair to the client, and not under-pricing or pricing themselves out of the market. This is such an important topic and one that ALL new business owners should be sorting out before they … [Read more...]
You do NOT have permission…
I'm amazed at how many people do not read the User agreement and rules for LinkedIn. Regularly I get added to people's email lists because we're connected at LinkedIn. Come on people! If I want to be on your list I will subscribe - you don't need to add me. What don't you get about spam and anti-spam legislation rules? Just because I've agreed to connect, does NOT mean I've also agreed to be on your list. I am connected to a few thousand people - what if every single one of them decided to … [Read more...]
Is being a work at home mum what you thought?
This is a question that was asked at a forum I belong to recently. The asker wanted to know what was the biggest adjustment members had to make? I thought back to when my own children were at home and shared with them, the same that I'm sharing with you now. My girls are now grown and all work at home, three are mums themselves. However when they were home, I valued that I could be home for them when they left for school (or taking them there when they were younger) and being home when they … [Read more...]
How do I find my niche?
This is a question I see from time to time in VA forums from new VAs struggling to work out what they should be offering and how to attract clients. Personally, sometimes I think the focus on 'niches' gets in the way of people starting up their businesses and here are my thoughts. Can I tell you I never had a niche when I started over 23 years ago? I just did whatever was needed, typing, data entry, minutes of meetings, bookkeeping, phone answering. Whatever I could do. It was three years … [Read more...]
